Artwork
María Pilar de la Cerda y Marín de Resende, Duchess of Nájera
María Pilar de la Cerda y Marín de Resende, Duchess of Nájera is an oil painting by Vicente López Portaña. It dates from 1798 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts María Pilar de la Cerda y Marín de Resende, Duchess of Nájera, accompanied by specific objects that suggest her social standing and personal attributes. The composition includes a book, a hand fan, and a hat, items traditionally associated with the leisure, refinement, and fashion of the Spanish aristocracy in the late eighteenth century. These elements collectively represent the sitter's identity as a noblewoman of high status, emphasizing her education and elegance through the inclusion of the book and fan, while the hat serves as a marker of contemporary dress and public presence.
Technique & Style
The work measures 114 cm in height and 91 cm in width, reflecting the modest dimensions typical of private commissions.
The painting is executed in oil on canvas, a standard support for Spanish portraiture of the late 18th century. The work measures 114 cm in height and 91 cm in width, reflecting the modest dimensions typical of private commissions. Brushwork is precise, emphasizing the sitter’s refined attire and the subtle play of light on fabric, while the inclusion of a hand fan, book, and hat underscores contemporary aristocratic pastimes.
The composition balances formal portrait conventions with a delicate handling of texture, rendering the sitter’s dignified presence with both clarity and softness.
History & Provenance
The portrait of María Pilar de la Cerda y Marín de Resende, Duchess of Nájera, was created by the Spanish artist Vicente López Portaña in 1795. Executed in oil paint on canvas, the work measures 114 cm in height and 91 cm in width. It currently resides in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid.
The painting depicts the Duchess holding a book, a hand fan, and a hat, capturing her likeness during the late 18th century.
The portrait of María Pilar de la Cerda y Marín de Resende, Duchess of Nájera, is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. Painted by Vicente López Portaña in 1795, the oil on canvas work measures 114 cm in height and 91 cm in width. The provided sources confirm its location within the museum but do not list a specific inventory number or detail any past exhibitions.
Overview
In 1798, Vicente López Portaña, a preeminent Spanish portraitist of the late eighteenth century, executed an oil painting of María Pilar de la Cerda y Marín de Resende, Duchess of Nájera. The work presents the aristocrat seated in an upholstered chair, surrounded by a subdued, darkened interior that emphasizes her illuminated visage and sumptuous attire.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Vicente López Portaña (Spanish:; 19 September 1772 – 22 July 1850) was a Spanish painter, considered one of the best portrait painters of his time.
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