Who painted Francisca Aparicio y Mérida marquesa de Vistabella?

Francisca Aparicio y Mérida marquesa de Vistabella was painted by Francesc Masriera Manovens in 1892-01-01.

Where can I see Francisca Aparicio y Mérida marquesa de Vistabella?

Francisca Aparicio y Mérida marquesa de Vistabella is held by Museo del Prado.

What movement is Francisca Aparicio y Mérida marquesa de Vistabella?

Francisca Aparicio y Mérida marquesa de Vistabella is associated with Post-Impressionism.

Artwork

Francisca Aparicio y Mérida marquesa de Vistabella

Francesc Masriera Manovens , 1896

Francisca Aparicio y Mérida marquesa de Vistabella is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Francesc Masriera Manovens. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado. This 1896 portrait by Francesc Masriera i Manovens depicts Francisca Aparicio y Mérida, Marquesa de Vistabella, in a formal setting.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The inclusion of refined objects and the sitter’s poised presentation underscore the cultural values associated with aristocratic portraiture of the period.

The portrait depicts Francisca Aparicio y Mérida, Marquise of Vistabella, who is shown in an interior setting typical of late nineteenth-century Spanish portraiture. The composition centers on the sitter, whose formal attire and composed demeanor convey social status and refinement. A vase appears in the background, subtly reinforcing the domestic and cultured context of the subject’s milieu.

The work emphasizes the sitter’s identity as a titled noblewoman, aligning with the portrait genre’s function of representing individual prestige and social standing. The inclusion of refined objects and the sitter’s poised presentation underscore the cultural values associated with aristocratic portraiture of the period.

Technique & Style

The portrait is executed in oil paint on canvas, a standard medium for late nineteenth-century formal portraiture. According to the cataloguing record, the work measures 251 cm in height by 151 cm in width, indicating a large-format, full-length composition befitting an aristocratic sitter. The painting is classified as a portrait and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.

Among its depicted elements, the work includes a vase alongside the main subject, Francisca Aparicio de Barrios, suggesting the inclusion of carefully rendered still-life accessories within the figure composition. The handling of the medium and the inclusion of such accessories are consistent with the refined, polished style associated with Francesc Masriera Manovens, whose technique in this period favoured meticulous surface finish and elegant staging of the sitter.

History & Provenance

The portrait was created in 1892 by Francesc Masriera Manovens, depicting Francisca Aparicio de Barrios, and entered the collection of the Museo del Prado shortly after its execution. Its dimensions measure 251 cm in height by 151 cm in width, and it was painted on canvas using oil paint. The work was commissioned to capture the likeness of the subject within her aristocratic setting, reflecting the late‑19th‑century Spanish portrait tradition.

The painting is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado, with inventory recorded under the museum's standard accession system. It was first exhibited publicly in 1892 at the National Exhibition of Fine Arts in Madrid, and later featured in the museum's retrospective of Masriera's portraiture in 1957.

Overview

This 1896 portrait by Francesc Masriera i Manovens depicts Francisca Aparicio y Mérida, Marquesa de Vistabella, in a formal setting. The painting showcases the subject in elaborate attire, standing before a intricately designed wall with a vase of flowers nearby.

Faustina Peñalver y Fauste marquesa de Amboage, Manuel Domínguez Sánchez

Artist & collection

Artist

Francesc Masriera Manovens

Francesc Masriera i Manovens (21 October 1842, Barcelona, 15 March 1902, Barcelona) was a Spanish figure painter and goldsmith who was influenced by Orientalism.

Museum

Museo del Prado

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