Duchess of Alba, The White Duchess

"The White Duchess" is a remarkable portrait by Francisco Goya, a leading figure of Romanticism. Painted in 1795, this masterpiece skillfully captures an aristocratic figure of 1800s Spain, María Cayetana de Silva, the 13th Duchess of Alba. Expertly created using oil on canvas, the life-sized painting reflects Goya's exceptional talent and affinity for grandeur. The painting, housed in Madrid's Liria Palace, serves as an enduring testament to the duchess' influential presence among the elite circles of Spanish Court. This painting, along with its darker-toned counterpart, "The Black Duchess," offer contrasting character studies of the enigmatic duchess.