Rita Luna

Rita Luna García (Malaga, 1770-Madrid, 1832) was a famous stage actress, the daughter of comical actors. She was at one time considered the greatest actress of her time, much to the dismay of her rival, María del Rosario Fernández, "La Tirana", whose portrait Goya also painted. She retired from the stage at the peak of her professional success, in 1806. Her final years were spent at the royal palace of El Pardo, where, according to Viñaza, this portrait was made, and where she carried out numerous charitable acts.

Here, Goya was not painting the famous actress in her moment of glory but rather the woman when she was older and living a quiet life. The bust portrait is dominated by the actress' sad, melancholy face. Her down-turned head is covered by a black shawl. She is depicted as an elegant señora, adorned with earrings and necklace and with her hair carefully styled. But all these details are eclipsed by the sorrow in her face.

The Count of La Viñaza mentions another portrait, of an unknown gentleman, made by Goya on canvas and affixed by the painter himself to a board so as to make a companion piece to that of Rita Luna. The man it depicts is probably also an actor.