Baltasar Carlos, two-year-old heir to the Spanish throne, was the son of Philip IV. As official painter to the king, Velázquez created countless portraits of Philip and his family. Here, despite his young age, the prince is posed as an adult, standing at attention next to a person with dwarfism, who may be a jester. Baltasar grips the baton of power and the hilt of his small sword. The attendant holds a rattle and apple, which are a toy and a snack for the prince. Their shapes allude to the scepter and orb, symbols of regal authority.
The Arts of Golden Age Spain and the Hispanic World 