Queen María Luisa on horseback
1799 Museo del Prado
About this artwork
This life-sized equestrian portrait depicts Queen María Luisa of Spain wearing the uniform of the Order of the Queen Maria Luisa. It is part of a pair of portraits, with the companion piece featuring King Charles IV.
Did you know?
Goya was known for his unflinching honesty in portraits, and while this work is formal and regal, many contemporaries noted his subtle ability to capture the complex, often polarizing personality of the Queen. The Queen herself was quite fond of being depicted in equestrian portraits, viewing them as a powerful assertion of her status and authority alongside the King. This particular series of royal portraits was instrumental in cementing Goya's position as the premier court painter of late 18th-century Spain.
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Queen María Luisa on horseback
Francisco Goya, 1799
