Amalia de Llano y Dotres, Countess of Vilches. Federico de Madrazo

Federico de Madrazo carefully painted the dress and jewellery with intense and bright colours.

Madrazo used lighter colours to paint the figure of the countess.

He also used darker colours to paint the background of the painting, the chair, and the fabric on the chair.

This way of painting highlights the figure of the Countess of Vilches and makes her more illuminated.

The portraits painted by Federico de Madrazo were usually serious and formal.

This portrait of the Countess of Vilches is different.

Madrazo was very close friends with the countess, and this friendship is evident in the painting.

The elegant gestures of the Countess of Vilches suggest a close relationship with the painter.

Her posture is comfortable and informal, so she is not perfect and rigid.

Amalia de Llano y Dotres became a countess through her marriage to the first Count of Vilches.

The countess was a writer and a lover of music.

She published two novels called “Berta” and “Lidia”.

Amalia also had strong political ideas, such as the defence of the Spanish monarchy.

Federico de Madrazo is the author of this painting.

His father was also a painter.

For this reason, he studied painting from a young age.

Federico de Madrazo travelled to France, where he learned techniques from important French painters.

Later, Madrazo used these techniques to create this painting.

When Madrazo returned to Spain, he was appointed the official painter for the portraits of the royal family.

This position made him successful among the wealthy and important people in Madrid, who commissioned him for portraits.