Actress Antonia Zarate (c.1810 – c.1811) by Francisco Goya

The artwork “Actress Antonia Zarate” is a captivating oil on canvas portrait by Francisco Goya, thought to have been created around 1810 to 1811. Representing the Romanticism art movement, the portrait measures 71 by 58 centimeters and is part of the genre of portraiture. This piece by Goya is currently housed at the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

In the artwork, the subject, Antonia Zarate, is portrayed with a direct and engaging gaze. Her features are delicately rendered, allowing her personality and presence to emanate from the canvas. Goya’s expert use of light and shadow enhance the three-dimensional quality of her face, imbuing the portrait with a sense of realism. Zarate’s attire suggests refinement and elegance, featuring a translucent scarf wrapped around her head and shoulders, softly diffusing the light that illuminates her visage. The attention to textural detail in her clothing, from the gauzy material of her scarf to the fur that adorns her garment, demonstrate Goya’s skill in painting various fabrics and surfaces. Her expression exudes a serene confidence, epitomizing the Romantic fascination with individual emotion and character. The dark background of the painting focuses all attention on Zarate herself, highlighting the careful composition and the skillful technique with which Goya has captured her likeness.