Two commanders meet in the center of a wide, hazy landscape: a Dutch governor bows to hand over the key of his city, and the victorious Spanish general stops him from kneeling with a hand on his shoulder. Behind the Spaniards a forest of upright lances rises against the sky, while the defeated Dutch stand in looser ranks at the left and smoke drifts across the distant plain. The scene is the surrender of Breda on June 5, 1625, when Justin of Nassau handed the city's keys to Ambrosio Spínola, commander of the Spanish tercios in Flanders. Diego Velázquez painted it for the Hall of Realms in the Buen Retiro Palace in Madrid, a room of battle scenes celebrating the victories of Philip IV's armies; the decoration was begun in 1634 and finished by spring 1635.

The Prado says the winner receives the key with an attitude close to affection, and that Velázquez took great liberties with the setting, following a play by Calderón more than the historical record. The picture is also called The Lances, after the spears on the right. Look at the lower right for a blank sheet of paper, which the Prado's guide describes as Velázquez's "signature." It is in the Museo del Prado in Madrid.