Lot 1694 Dα

The present painting was recorded as by Lucas Velázquez in the 1940 World Fair catalogue of European art.
The depiction of women in attitudes of power found particular diffusion during Queen Isabella of Spain's reign, a moment when the debate around the role of women in society flourished; the present portrait could well be read as an exploration of how femininity has been and is represented in Spain.
In fact, the painting makes reference to different periods and models: whereas the costumes, the backdrop opening and the general atmosphere of comfort and beauty refer to compositions from the 1830s, the very overt display of jewellery recalls trends in female portraiture, which were emerging around the mid- 19th century. In a contemporary nineteenth-century setting, the free and powerful brushwork relates to Velázquez's technique as well as the daring use of colour which echoes seventeenth-century portraiture of Infantas - an allusion which is foremost achieved by means of a distinct resemblance in composition. The striking palette, combined with the variations in style and the fragmentary brushwork, suggest strong links to Spanish colourism, at the same time testing its limits.
We are grateful to Professor Andrew Ginger for his suggestions and his kind assistance in the catalogue entry.