Leocadia Zorrilla (?)

There are some doubts as to the identity of the subject of this portrait. Traditionally, the sitter was thought to be Josefa Bayeu, the artist's wife, but the date that it was painted - 1798, according to writers such as Sánchez Cantón, Salas, Gassier and Wilson - does not correspond with her age at that time (about 50), and even less so if it is given the earlier date of 1814-1816 indicated by her hairstyle and clothing. Today, the work is considered to be a portrait of Leocadia Zorrilla y Galarza (Leocadia Weiss), the woman who Goya lived with following the death of Josefa in 1812, since her age tallies better with the young woman we see in this canvas.

The half-length portrait shows her seated in an armchair, standing out against the dark, neutral background. She is wearing a transparent white mantilla shawl over a gown with gold detailing on the sleeves, and has a closed golden fan and gloves which lend a touch of elegance to her attire. The viewer's attention is drawn to the sitter's face; she is smiling slightly, her hair worn in an original plaited hairstyle with a high bun which came into fashion in around 1805.