María del Carmen Hernández Espinosa de los Monteros, Duchess of Santoña
1873. Oil on canvas.On display elsewhere
María del Carmen Hernández y Espinosa de los Monteros (Motril, Granada, 1828 – Madrid, 1894) was the daughter of José Hernández and María del Carmen Espinosa. She first married José Heredia Ruiz de la Cámara, a cavalry commander and inspector of Statistics in Cadiz. In 1873 she was married to her second husband, Juan Manuel Manzanedo y González de Teja, first Marquis of Manzanedo and Duke of Santoña. His fortune came mainly from the slave trade and real estate investments. He also belonged to the Royal Order of Noble Ladies of Queen Maria Luisa. Among his numerous charitable works, the foundation of the Niño Jesús children´s hospital in Madrid stands out. The Duchess is wearing the badge and sash of the Civil Order of Charity which can be seen on her chest.
This portrait pairs a complementary portrait of her husband, Juan Manuel Manzanedo y González de Teja, painted by Federico de Madrazo in 1876, kept in the Chamber of Commerce of Madrid.
