[1][2] Apollo in the Forge of Vulcan has been cited as one of the most important works from Velázquez's first trip to Italy[3] and "one of his most successful compositions with regard to the unified, natural interaction of the figures.

"[4] The painting depicts the moment when the god Apollo, identifiable by the crown of laurel on his head, visits Vulcan, who is found making weapons for war.

[2] Velázquez was inspired to create this work by an engraving by Antonio Tempesta, modifying it greatly and centering the narrative action on the arrival of Apollo, using a classical baroque style.

These two canvases formed a pair and were brought back to Spain with his luggage: Joseph's Tunic and Apollo in the Forge of Vulcan.

The cave in which the blacksmith god forges weapons for the other deities in this painting is shown as a smithy, similar to those Velázquez could have seen in Spain or in Rome.

As in many of his works, the photographic quality of the objects (mostly metallic: armour, the anvil, the hammers and the red-hot iron itself) that appear in the painting which show realism taken to the extreme.

The color of the loin cloths changed to flat dark brown while the flesh colour mainly containing yellow ochre, vermilion and azurite remained unchanged.