María Tomasa Palafox, Marquise of Villafranca facts for kids
María Tomasa Palafox y Portocarrero (1780–1835) was an important Spanish noblewoman. She was known as the Marquise of Villafranca and the Duchess of Medina Sidonia.
She was a big supporter of the famous painter Francisco de Goya y Lucientes. She also inspired many of his paintings. María Tomasa was married to Francisco de Borja Álvarez de Toledo, 12th Marquis of Villafranca.
An Artist Herself
Goya's famous painting shows María Tomasa as an artist. She holds a brush and a maulstick in her hand. A maulstick is a stick artists use to steady their hand while painting.
In the painting, she has paused her work at her easel. An easel is a stand that holds a canvas while an artist paints. She leans back in her armchair, carefully looking at her husband. He is posing for his portrait, but we cannot see him in the painting.
Goya honored María Tomasa by writing her name on the palette. A palette is a flat surface where artists mix their paints. Goya signed his own name on the arm of the chair in the painting.
More Than a Hobby
María Tomasa was dressed in the popular Empire style fashion of her time. She was much more than just someone who painted for fun. She was an honorary member of the Madrid Academy. This was a very important art school in Spain.
The Madrid Academy even gave her an award for her artistic skills. This shows she was a respected artist in her own right.
