María Tomasa de Palafox, Marquise of Villafranca, received a careful education under the personal guidance of her mother, María Francisca de Sales Portocarreño, Countess of Montijo. The Countess was secretary for 18 years of the Junta de Damas de Honor y Mérito, an institution founded in 1775 within the framework of the Real Sociedad Económica Matritense, which was very actively involved in social reform programmes (such as the education of women and the improvement of women’s and inclusive prisons). María Tomasa continued her mother’s work and participated in the activities of the Sociedad Matritense, showing great interest in new pedagogical ideas and scientific development. Thus, they claimed women’s rights outside the discourse of excellence, which accepted equality as valid only for those women who were considered extraordinary for their qualities. However, the artistic, scientific and literary academies did not exclude women, but in practice, few were able to join them. The San Fernando Academy was one of the first to allow women to join, and in 1766 it had ten women painters and an honorary president, the Countess of Fuentes. The Academy frequently placed limits on women’s training in painting and they were not allowed to attend classes in life drawing or nudes, nor were they allowed to deviate from “feminine” subjects such as paintings of flowers or landscapes.
Collection: Images
Project: 11. Science and culture as representation in Europe., 8. Women and the change for gender equality in Europe.
Chronology: XIX
Scope: Secondary Education, Baccalaureate, University
Resource type: Image
Format: Oil on canvas (195 x 126 cm)
Source: Museo del Prado (Madrid)
Language: Spanish
Date: 1804
Owner: Álvaro Romero González (Modernalia)
Identifier: P002448
Copyright: Museo del Prado (Madrid)
Abstract: This work by Goya depicts women as artists during the 18th century, thus opening up new perspectives from Women's History
Image
Tags
GoyaHistoria de las MujeresMuseo del PradoPintorasPinturasSociabilidad femeninaSociedad de Amigos del PaísSociedad MatritenseTrabajos
