The Duchess of Alba and la Beata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Duchess of Alba and the "Beata" |
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| Spanish: La Duquesa de Alba asustando a la beata | |
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| Artist | Francisco Goya |
| Year | 1795 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 33 cm × 27.7 cm (13 in × 10.9 in) |
| Location | Museo del Prado, Madrid |
The Duchess of Alba and "la Beata" is a small painting from 1795 by the Spanish artist Francisco Goya. It shows the Duchess María Cayetana de Silva, 13th Duchess of Alba playing a trick on her maid, Rafaela Luisa Velazquez, who was known as "la Beata" (meaning "the Pious Woman").
The painting captures a fun moment between the two women. The Duchess holds a red cord near the older woman's chin, making her playfully recoil. The maid leans back with a look of mock horror, but her mouth shows she's enjoying the joke. She uses a walking stick to support herself and holds a wooden cross as if to playfully "banish" the Duchess. Both women wear white dresses. The Duchess's dress has black lace and a bodice. Goya used mostly black and white colors with broad brush strokes. The dresses have touches of light yellow. The background is plain black, which makes the two figures stand out and focuses all attention on their interaction.
This painting is part of a group of Goya's works called "caprichos," which means "whims" or "fantasies." He painted it shortly after he became deaf. Goya signed the painting "Goya in 1795" in the bottom right corner. Today, you can see it at the Museo del Prado in Madrid. Goya painted the Duchess María Cayetana de Silva many other times, including The White Duchess from the same year and the 1797 Portrait of the Duchess of Alba.
See also
- In Spanish: La Duquesa de Alba y la Beata para niños
- List of works by Francisco Goya
