Portrait of Doña Isabel de Porcel
Encyclopedia
Portrait of Doña Isabel de Porcel is an oil-on-canvas painting made by the Spanish
painter Francisco Goya
around 1805. The portrait depicts Isabel Lobo Velasco de Porcel, who was born at Ronda
around 1780 and was the second wife of Antonio Porcel (a liberal also portrayed by Goya in 1806; yet his painting was lost in a fire). Isabel's husband was 25 years older than she, and they met when she was 20 years old. Antonio Porcel was a friend of Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos
, who in turn brought him in contact with Goya, who lived in close proximity of the couple's domicile.
The half-length portrait depicts a young woman dressed in typical Spanish attire, a white shirt and a black mantilla
. In spite of her "maja
" attire, the richness of the textiles and her lady-like appearance give the picture an aristocratic elegance. In certain epochs the clothes worn by the Spanish wealthy class were an imitation of the popular attires.
The decisive gesture of her arms in the akimbo
position and her confidence stand out. Her eyes and hair are light brown, her skin is pale, and her body is slightly turned to the left side, while her head gives balance by being turned to the opposite side. Goya achieves realism and deepness without adding secondary objects to the composition. One of the unique aspects of this painting is that the woman is looking towards the left side of the viewer and not towards him, which is the case of the majority of Goya's paintings.
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
painter Francisco Goya
Francisco Goya
Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes was a Spanish romantic painter and printmaker regarded both as the last of the Old Masters and the first of the moderns. Goya was a court painter to the Spanish Crown, and through his works was both a commentator on and chronicler of his era...
around 1805. The portrait depicts Isabel Lobo Velasco de Porcel, who was born at Ronda
Ronda
Ronda is a city in Spanish province of Málaga. It is located about West from the city of Málaga, within the autonomous community of Andalusia. Its population is approximately 35,000 inhabitants.-History:...
around 1780 and was the second wife of Antonio Porcel (a liberal also portrayed by Goya in 1806; yet his painting was lost in a fire). Isabel's husband was 25 years older than she, and they met when she was 20 years old. Antonio Porcel was a friend of Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos
Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos
Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos was an Asturian-born Spanish neoclassical statesman, author, philosopher and a major figure of the Age of Enlightenment in Spain.-Life:...
, who in turn brought him in contact with Goya, who lived in close proximity of the couple's domicile.
The half-length portrait depicts a young woman dressed in typical Spanish attire, a white shirt and a black mantilla
Mantilla
A mantilla is a lace or silk veil or shawl worn over the head and shoulders, often over a high comb, popular with women in Spain. It is particularly associated with traditional devotional practices among women in Catholicism.-History:...
. In spite of her "maja
Majo
Majo or Maja , also Manolo and Manola after the most popular names, were terms for people from the lower classes of Spanish society, especially in Madrid, who distinguished themselves by their elaborate outfits and sense of style in dress and manners, as well as by their cheeky behavior.They...
" attire, the richness of the textiles and her lady-like appearance give the picture an aristocratic elegance. In certain epochs the clothes worn by the Spanish wealthy class were an imitation of the popular attires.
The decisive gesture of her arms in the akimbo
Akimbo
Akimbo is a human body position in which the hands are on the hips and the elbows are bowed outward, or bent or bowed in a more general sense .-Origins:The term was recorded first in the English language around 1400 in The Tale of Beryn: "The hoost .....
position and her confidence stand out. Her eyes and hair are light brown, her skin is pale, and her body is slightly turned to the left side, while her head gives balance by being turned to the opposite side. Goya achieves realism and deepness without adding secondary objects to the composition. One of the unique aspects of this painting is that the woman is looking towards the left side of the viewer and not towards him, which is the case of the majority of Goya's paintings.