Did Velazquez paint himself in his paintings?

While Diego Velázquez was a master of portraiture, he did not paint himself in his most famous paintings. He is known for his portraits of Spanish royalty, including King Philip IV and his family, as well as other notable figures.

However, there are two known self-portraits by Velázquez:

* "Self-Portrait" (c. 1640): This small painting, currently in the National Gallery in London, shows Velázquez in his studio, holding a palette and brush.

* "The Surrender of Breda" (1634-1635): In this large historical scene, Velázquez included himself as a small figure on the right side, near the background. It's considered to be a self-portrait by art historians.

Therefore, although he didn't paint himself in his most iconic works, Velázquez did create two documented self-portraits. These offer valuable insight into his appearance and working process.