Painter to the King

'Novels about art and artistry are plentiful; many are very good. But in Painter to the King Sackville has written not only by far the finest novel of its kind that I have ever read, but one of the finest historical novels of recent years.' - Sarah Perry, The Guardian It is 1622. Summoned by his king, Philip IV of Spain, painter Diego Velázquez departs his native Seville to attend the royal court of Madrid. Velázquez’s arrival marks the beginning of a complex relationship between artist and subject that will endure over the next 38 years. Over that time, the painter bears witness to the shifting fortunes of a court gradually collapsing under the weight of its own excess. At storm's centre sits the king, a man entombed by responsibilities to his people and his own growing grief. The years pass and still no heir, his sadness submerged in a sea of advisers and courtiers. Through it all Velázquez observes and paints, recording the king and the daily drama of the court. His position is unique, existing just outside the maelstrom of kingship but still seeing all. A portrait both of an artist and the act of art-making, the author of the award-winning The Still Point and Orkney presents a brilliantly-realised exploration of art and time, shot through with a contemporary narrative of search and discovery.