Answer:
c. Patronage in the Spanish century of gold.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Spanish Golden Age (Siglo de Oro = "century of gold") refers to a period of time in Spanish history which displayed a flourishing of art and literature in the country. This period lasted roughly a century, from the accession to the throne of Philip II in 1556 to the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659. Velazquez was one of the artists that flourished during this period, as evidenced by this portrait.