JUAN DE

PAREJA (1606–1670)  , Spanish painter, was born a slave in the West Indies about 1606, and in early life passed into the service of Velazquez, who employed him in colour-grinding and other menial work of the studio . By day he closely watched his master's methods, and by night stealthily practised with his brushes until he had attained considerable manipulative skill . The story goes that, having succeeded in xx . 26producing a picture satisfactory to himself, he contrived furtively to place it among those on which Velazquez had been working, immediately before an expected visit of King Philip IV . The performance was duly discovered and praised, and Pareja forthwith received his freedom, which, however, he continued to devote to his former employer's service . His extant works are not very numerous; the best known, the " Calling of St Matthew," now in the Prado, Madrid, has considerable merit as regards technique, but does not reveal much originality, insight or devotional feeling . He died in 167o .