Josefa de Castilla Portugal y van Asbrock de Garcini
Original title: Josefa de Castilla Portugal y van Asbrock de Garcini (1775–about 1850)
kurzbeschreibung
Josefa de Castilla Portugal y van Asbrock de Garcini sits for her portrait, painted by Francisco de Goya in 1804. Rendered in oil on canvas, the young lady appears in light attire with a book in her hands.
Description
Long, wavy hair falls over the young woman's shoulders. She wears a white dress with a low neckline and holds a book or a staff. The seat she occupies reveals a red fabric. A dark, plain background emphasizes the figure.
Context
Josefa de Castilla Portugal y van Asbrock de Garcini, who came from an aristocratic family, was portrayed by Goya. The picture was made in 1804, while Goya was working as a court painter in Madrid. It is a commissioned work that presents the sitter in a representative pose.
Impact
The contrast between the gloomy background and the bright dress draws the eye entirely to the woman. Her calm pose and direct gaze give her a dignified, reserved presence.
Technique
Oil on canvas forms the basis of this painting. For facial features and hair, Goya used fine brushstrokes, while the background is treated with a looser brushwork. The color palette is high in contrast: brilliant white for the dress, dark tones in the background.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)