They are: on the left, the painter with his palette in his hand (a self portrait of Vel zquez); to the right, the visitor, one foot on the step, ready to enter the room; he is taking in the scene from the back, but he can see the royal couple, who are the spectacle itself, from the front; and lastly, in the centre, the reﬂection of the king and the queen, richly dressed, motionless, in the attitude of patient models.