Diego Velázquez was appointed as court painter to King Philip IV of Spain in the early 17th century. He was chosen for the position due to his exceptional artistic talent and ability to paint lifelike portraits. This appointment allowed Velázquez to establish himself as one of the most important painters of his time, and provided him with a stable source of income and access to the royal court and its patrons. The position also gave him the opportunity to travel to Italy, where he was exposed to the works of the Italian Renaissance artists and incorporated elements of their style into his own work. As a result, Velázquez's appointment to the king had a profound impact on his artistic career, and he went on to produce some of the most iconic and influential paintings in the history of Western art.