In 1656 Spanish painter Diego Velázquez completed a work depicting life at the Spanish court under Philip IV.
Its intriguing composition led it to become one of the most famous paintings in the world: 300 years later Picasso created a series of work dedicated to it.
That fascination, and a visit to the museum housing Las Meninas when she was young, led Andrea Hotere to pen her novel The Vanishing Point.
She's woven a treacherous trail through the art world, as her main character Alex seeks to understand the clues Velázquez left in the painting alluding to a royal scandal.
Andrea knows art well - she's the daughter of leading Kiwi artist Ralph Hotere and poet Cilla McQueen.
Photo: Leemage via AFP
