GOYA Y LUCIENTES, Francisco de
(b. 1746, Fuendetodos, d. 1828, Bordeaux)

The Duchess of Alba Arranging Her Hair

1796-97
Indian ink wash, 171 x 101 mm
Biblioteca Nacional, Madrid

This graphics belongs to the Sanlúcar Album.

The Duchess of Alba had been married to the Duke when she was thirteen; they had no children. The Duke died in 1796. His widow withdrew, as custom demanded, to one of her country estates, the summer residence of Sanlúcar in Andalusia. Goya followed her. Sketches, etchings and a painting are all the evidence we have of the months Goya spent with the young widow in Sanlúcar; nothing in writing, no allusions or anecdotes.