The Marquesa de Pontejos

The portrait was probably connected with the marchioness's first marriage. Her fashionable hat reflects the Spanish aristocracy's international tastes and may have come from England. Silvery tones join late Rococo taste with Goya's study of Velázquez. The private commission shows court portraiture absorbing different artistic and fashionable models.

A wide hat frames the marchioness's head. Its style reflects international fashion and possibly the object's English origin.

Ribbons and flowers decorate the pale dress. Silvery paint transitions preserve the fabric's lightness amid numerous details.

A small pink flower rests in her hand. Its color recurs in the dress ornaments and gives the gesture a specific object.

A small dog stands beside the skirt. Its compact silhouette accompanies the full-length outdoor portrait.

Trees fade into the pale landscape. The soft setting leaves the foreground face and costume details clear.

In 1786 Goya became a court painter. This early aristocratic portrait shows his attention to fashion and tonal relationships. His later images of war and political upheaval belong to different circumstances in his long career.