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Primary sourcePainting1795

Portrait of the Duchess of Alba

Francisco Goya · 1795

A life-size 1795 portrait of María Cayetana de Silva, Duchess of Alba, painted by Goya and known as 'The White Duchess'.

Goya painted this portrait of the Duchess of Alba, one of several works documenting their relationship and his courtly patronage.

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Full-length painting of a woman with voluminous dark curly hair adorned with a red bow, wearing a white dress with dots, a red sash at the waist, a red bow at the bodice, and a red coral necklace. She points with one hand toward a landscape while a small white dog with a red bow stands at her hem. Inscription visible on the ground at lower left.
Francisco Goya, Portrait of the Duchess of Alba, 1795. Liria Palace, Madrid.

About this source

What it is

This is a life-sized oil-on-canvas portrait of María Cayetana de Silva, 13th Duchess of Alba, painted by Francisco Goya in 1795. It remains in the collection of the House of Alba at the Liria Palace, Madrid.

Why it matters

The Duchess was one of the most celebrated aristocrats of the Spanish court, and this painting is one of several Goya made of her around this time. It shows his skill at formal portraiture and his connection to Spain's elite, who were his main patrons. Art historians have debated whether Goya and the Duchess had a personal relationship, though there is no surviving proof.

Look closer

  • What does her pose and dress tell you about her wealth and status?
  • Why might Goya include an inscription with his own name near her pointing finger?
  • How does this formal portrait compare to more informal images of her?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Francisco Goya on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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