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The man depicted here is the master of the royal hunt, Juan Mateos. His role is referred to by the pistol held in his right hand and the hilt of his sword on which his left hand rests. Here again the court painter Velázquez shows himself to be an outstanding portraitist, the individual facial features of the subject being represented in great detail. The man’s face is very much the focal point of the painting; his garments and the thick gloves on his hands are painted in a much looser style.