- Joaquina Téllez-Girón, Marchioness of Santa Cruz
Doña Joaquina Téllez-Girón, Marchioness of Santa Cruz (es: "Doña Joaquina Téllez-Girón, marquesa de Santa Cruz") was a daughter ofPedro de Álcantara Téllez-Girón, 9th Duke of Osuna andMaría Josefa de la Soledad, 9th Duchess of Osuna .The painter
Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes , a friend of the family ofOsuna , most probably portrayed her in a famous painting; she was probably around 21 years young when she was portrayed. She was married around that time toJosé Silva-Bazán, Marquis of Santa Cruz , who was the first director of theMuseo del Prado .The marchioness is shown clad in a very light white dress, lying sideways on a red
divan . Her head is decorated with yellowflower s; her left hand is balancing alyre . Her gaze does not directly fix on the viewer but seems to look distant. Her body does not seem to sit in a natural position, but seemingly floats on the red divan and thepillow s.The theme seems almost allegorical, a reference to the ancient Greek theatre. The composition of the work is similar to
Antonio Canova 's sculpture of "Paolina Borghese as Venus Victrix". The portrait is also similar toDiego Velázquez and to an extendTitian 's depictions ofVenus . The flowers on her head a reference to Bacchus, while the lyre is a homage to art andApollo .The Museum of the Prado exhibits this painting since
1986 , after having paid overUS$ 6 million to the previous owners.
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.