Condesa de Altamira and Her Daughter, María Agustina 1787 - 1788

Francisco Goya painted this portrait of the Condesa de Altamira and her daughter, María Agustina, in Spain, likely in the late 1780s. It presents us with ideas about family, class, and power during this period. The image is dominated by the pastel pink of the Condesa’s dress and the pale blue of the sofa, communicating the refined elegance of her aristocratic status. It creates meaning through the subtle visual codes of wealth and leisure: the elaborate fabrics, the soft color palette, and the carefully arranged pose. The painting offers a glimpse into the social life of the Spanish nobility. As court painter, Goya was attuned to the needs and expectations of his elite patrons, while also being interested in the Enlightenment ideas circulating at the time. By researching the Altamira family and Goya’s other works, and considering the history of portraiture, we can better understand how art both reflects and shapes the social norms of its time. The politics of imagery are complex, and the historian’s role is to try to unpack them.