Portrait of Doña Isabel de Porcel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Portrait of Doña Isabel de Porcel |
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| Artist | Francisco de Goya |
| Year | 1805 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 82 cm × 54.6 cm (32 in × 21.5 in) |
| Location | National Gallery, London |
The Portrait of Doña Isabel de Porcel is a famous oil-on-canvas painting by the Spanish artist Francisco de Goya. He painted it around 1805. This portrait shows Isabel Lobo Velasco de Porcel. She was born in Ronda around 1780. Isabel was the second wife of Antonio Porcel. Antonio was 25 years older than Isabel. They met when she was about 20 years old.
Antonio Porcel was a person with modern ideas. He was connected to Manuel Godoy, Prince of Peace. Godoy was a friend of Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos. Jovellanos then introduced Antonio to Goya. Goya lived nearby. People say that Goya gave this painting to them as a thank you gift for their kindness. Goya also painted a portrait of Antonio Porcel. That painting was much larger. It was sadly lost in a fire in 1953 in Buenos Aires.
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What Does the Painting Show?
This painting shows Isabel from her waist up. She is wearing typical Spanish clothes. She has a white shirt and a black mantilla. A mantilla is a type of veil. Even though her clothes are simple, they look very rich. Her elegant look gives the picture a noble feeling. At this time, wealthy Spanish people often wore styles from common city people. You can see this in Goya's famous painting La Maja.
Isabel's Pose and Features
Isabel's arms are bent with her hands on her hips. This pose shows her confidence. Her eyes and hair are light brown. Her skin is pale. Her body is turned slightly to her left. Her head turns the other way, which makes the picture balanced. Goya made the painting look very real. He did this without adding other objects around her.
A Unique Goya Portrait
One special thing about this painting is that Isabel is looking to the left side of the viewer. In most of Goya's paintings, the person looks directly at you. This makes Isabel's portrait stand out.
About the Painting's History
Some art experts have recently wondered if Goya really painted this work. They are looking into its history.
See also
In Spanish: Retrato de Isabel Porcel para niños
- List of works by Francisco Goya
