The Rokeby Venus: Velázquez’s only surviving nude | The National Gallery

Since the National Gallery acquired Diego Velázquez’s ‘Rokeby Venus’ in 1906, it has become one of the most popular paintings in our collection. But who is the mysterious Venus looking at and what do we know about the origins of this work by the greatest painter of 17th century Spain? Find out all this and more with Francesca Whitlum-Cooper, Associate Curator of Paintings 1600-1800, as she walks us through the surprising history of the only surviving nude by Velázquez. Subscribe to be the first to know about all our new videos: Follow us on social media: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: Help keep the museum accessible for everyone by supporting us here: The National Gallery houses the national collection of paintings in the Western European tradition from the 13th to the 19th centur