In his famous painting, Goya portrays the Marchioness de Villafranca as an artist with brush and
maulstick in her hand. She has interrupted her work at the
easel and leaning back in her
armchair, she is scrutinising her model, her husband—invisible to the viewer—who is posing for his portrait. He must have been seated facing sideways with his profile to the artist, unable to turn the attention to his wife until the picture was done. Goya honoured his aristocratic "colleague" with the inscription of her name on the
palette; he himself signed his work with his signature on the arm of the chair. The marchioness, who is fashionably dressed in the
Empire style, was certainly more than just a dabbler in art. She was an honorary member of the
Madrid Academy, which also honoured her with an award.[3]