| The Duke and Duchess of Osuna and their Children | |
|---|---|
| Spanish: Los duques de Osuna y sus hijos | |
 | |
| Artist | Francisco Goya |
| Year | 1787–1788 |
| Medium | Oil on unlined canvas |
| Subject | Pedro Téllez-Girón, 9th Duke of Osuna, María Josefa Pimentel, Duchess of Osuna and family |
| Dimensions | 225 cm× 174 cm(89 in× 69 in) |
| Location | Museo del Prado, Madrid |
The Duke and Duchess of Osuna and their Children is a family group painting by the Spanish painter Francisco Goya. It is held in the Museo del Prado, in Madrid.
Pedro Téllez-Girón, 9th Duke of Osuna and María Josefa Pimentel, Duchess of Osuna were among the country's leading ilustrados and important patrons of the arts and, specifically, of Goya, commissioning several paintings from him.
Goya would later portray, as La duquesa de Abrantes (1816), their youngest daughter, Manuela Isidra, who had not yet been born at the time of the sitting for the family portrait.
The Duke, dressed in the uniform of a brigadier of his regiment and in mourning for the recent death of his father, Pedro Téllez-Girón, 8th Duke of Osuna, stands to his seated wife's left, his right hand on the back of the chair, and holding the hand of their eldest daughter, Josefa Manuela. [1]
The Duchess, whom Goya had already portrayed in 1785, is dressed in the latest French fashion, [1] and seated with her youngest daughter, the Marchioness of Santa Cruz, whom Goya would later portray in an allegorical portrait in 1805, [note 1] in her lap. [1]
On his mother's right, the eldest son, Francisco de Borja, stands astride a headless hobby horse. [1] Goya would portray him again in 1816. [2] [note 2]
Seated on the cushion, at his mother's feet, Pedro de Alcántara, is portrayed here holding the string of a large pull toy carriage. [1]
The social status of the males and the male hierarchy is shown clearly in the pyramidal composition of this painting. [3]
The Duke is standing, his head at the top of the pyramid, while the Duchess is seated, with her sons to the left of the group, to draw the viewer's eye. [3]
Goya is clearly influenced by Mengs in how the group is organised in a pyramid [3] as well as in the variety of postures. The influence of Velázquez is clear in the use of space, the apparent presence of walls and floor, without actually showing them, with the use of light and shade. [3] Goya makes the figures come to life by making the Duke lean slightly to one side, with the intense stares of the children and the presence of the two dogs, making this a "typically amusing Goya animation", [3] and which, according to Nigel Glendinning, "gives the painting a strong sensation of mometaneousness so typical of both Velázquez and Goya". [3]
Doña María Tomasa Palafox y Portocarrero, Marchioness of Villafranca and Duchess of Medina Sidonia (1780–1835), was a patron and muse of the painter Francisco de Goya y Lucientes and the wife of Francisco de Borja Álvarez de Toledo, 12th Marquis of Villafranca.
Duke of Osuna is a Spanish noble title that was first awarded in 1562 by King Philip II of Spain to Pedro Girón de la Cueva,. Pedro was also Viceroy of Naples, (1582–1586), Ambassador in Portugal and 5th Count of Ureña.
Pedro de Alcántara Téllez-Girón y Pacheco, 9th Duke of Osuna, Grandee of Spain, was a Spanish nobleman and military commander during the French Revolutionary Wars.
Lady María Josefa de Borja Pimentel y Téllez-Giróniure uxorisDuchess of Osuna, suo jure12th Duchess of Benavente, was a Spanish Salonnière, famous as a patron of artists, writers and scientists and an important figure of the Spanish Age of Enlightenment. She was the first female (honorary) member of the royal Sociedad Económica de Amigos del País de Madrid as well as the first president of the royal Junta de Damas de Honor y Mérito.
Doña Joaquina Téllez-Girón y Pimentel, 2nd Countess of Osilo, iure uxorisMarchioness of Santa Cruz was a daughter of Pedro Téllez-Girón, 9th Duke of Osuna and María Josefa Pimentel, 12th Countess-Duchess of Benavente.
Gaspar Téllez-Girón, 5th Duke de Osuna, 5th Marquess of Peñafiel, 9th Count of Ureña and other lesser titles, was a Spanish general and a Grandee of Spain.
Duke of Gandía is a title of Spanish nobility that was first created in 1399 by Martin of Aragon and granted to Alfonso of Aragon and Foix. It has its origin in the lordship of Gandía created in 1323 by James II of Aragon. Later, having no direct descendants, the title passed from the House of Barcelona to the House of Trastámara.
Francisco de Borja Téllez-Girón y Pimentel, 10th Duke de Osuna, Grandee of Spain, , was a Spanish nobleman.
The Colossus, is known in Spanish as El Coloso and also El Gigante, El Pánico and La Tormenta. It is a painting traditionally attributed to Francisco de Goya that shows a giant in the centre of the canvas walking towards the left hand side of the picture. Mountains obscure his legs up to his thighs and clouds surround his body; the giant appears to be adopting an aggressive posture as he is holding one of his fists up at shoulder height. A dark valley containing a crowd of people and herds of cattle fleeing in all directions occupies the lower third of the painting.
Duke of Plasencia is a hereditary title in the Spanish nobility. It was granted on 1476 by Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand V of Castile, The Catholic Monarchs, to Álvaro de Zúñiga y Guzmán, 2nd count of Plasencia and also 1st Duke of Béjar, 1st Duke of Arévalo and 1st Count of Bañares, in acknowledgment for his loyalty during the War of Castilian Succession.
Pedro de Alcántara Téllez-Girón y Beaufort Spontin, 11th Duke of Osuna, GE, was a Spanish peer, head of the House of Osuna. He was one of the most important peers of his time, and was thirteen times a duke, twelve a marquess, thirteen a count and once a viscount.
Duke of Béjar is a hereditary title in the Peerage of Spain, accompanied by the dignity of Grandee and granted in 1485 by the Catholic Monarchs to Álvaro de Zúñiga, 1st Duke of Plasencia and chief justice of Castile.
Pedro de Alcántara Téllez Girón y Alfonso-Pimentel, 2nd Prince of Anglona (1786–1851) was a Spanish military officer during the Peninsular War and a politician.
Duke of Benavente is a hereditary title in the Peerage of Spain, accompanied by the dignity of Grandee and granted in 1473 by Henry IV to Rodrigo Alonso Pimentel, 4th Count of Benavente.
Marquess of Lombay is a noble title created by King Charles V of Spain in favor of Saint Francis Borgia Grandee of Spain, Duke of Gandia. on 7 July 1530.
José Gabriel de Silva-Bazán y Waldstein, 10th Marquess of Santa Cruz de Mudela, was a Spanish noble, first director of the Prado Museum between 1817 and 1820 and Mayordomo mayor between 1822 and 1823.
Ángela María Téllez-Girón y Duque de Estrada, 16th Duchess of Osuna, GE (1925–2015) was a Spanish noblewoman. She was a holder of ten grandeeships of Spain.
Duke of Medina de Rioseco is a hereditary title in the Peerage of Spain, accompanied by the dignity of Grandee and granted in 1538 by Charles I to Fernando Enríquez de Velasco, Admiral of Castile and Lord of Medina de Rioseco.
Guillermo Ducker was a Dutch miniaturist active mainly in Madrid, Spain between 1795 and 1830. He is known to have painted for Spain's royal family as well as for Madrid's high society, until at least 1813, when he painted a miniature of Joaquina Téllez Girón, Marchioness of Santa Cruz.
The series of paintings for the alameda of the Dukes of Osuna comprises seven pictures painted by Francisco de Goya between 1786 and 1787. The country estate of the dukes and duchesses, who were the painter's mecenas and friends, was known as El Capricho, and was located on the outskirts of Madrid.