Portrait of José Antonio Caballero, Second Marqués de Caballero, Secretary of Grace and Justice

Images(2)

Portrait of José Antonio Caballero, Second Marqués de Caballero, Secretary of Grace and Justice

Maker Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (Spanish, 1746-1828)

ClassificationsPAINTINGS

Date1807

Mediumoil on canvas

Dimensionscanvas: 41 5/16 × 33 1/8 in. (105 × 84.1 cm.) frame: 53 1/16 × 44 7/8 × 4 1/4 in. (134.8 × 114 × 10.8 cm.)

DescriptionIn this official portrait of the Spanish government member José Antonio Caballero (1754–1821), Goya presents his sitter against a dark, shadowed background, as a man proud of his stature and rank, wearing his highly decorated ministerial uniform.

Signedsigned and dated on the paper held by the sitter: Goya 1807

Inscribedinscribed on the paper held by the sitter: Exmo Sor / Marqués de / Caballero / Mintro de Grz y Just.

Credit LineThe Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. Gift of The Ahmanson Foundation.

Label TextThis is a stunning example of the official portraits of Spanish government members that Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes, also known as Goya, painted in the early 19th century. The name and title of the sitter, as well as Goya’s signature and date of the painting (1807) are written on the folded papers in the sitter’s hands, which read: Exmo Sor / Marqués de / Caballero / Mintro de / Gra y Just.a / Goya / 1807 (Most Excellent Sir / Marquis of / Caballero / Minister of / Grace and Justice / Goya / 1807).
Goya presents his sitter against a dark, shadowed background, as a man proud of his stature and rank. His erect and stern pose and vivid, direct gaze suggest confidence and authority. José Antonio Caballero is sitting in a red armchair, wearing his ministerial uniform of the Secretary of Grace and Justice. On his highly decorated gold-laced coat, he exhibits the blue and white sash and the eight-point Cross of the Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Charles III, the highest civil honor granted to government officials. On top of the sash is the badge of the religious and military Order of Santiago probably merited through political distinction.
Goya painted this portrait the year Caballero inherited the title of Marquis from his uncle, at the peak of his career.

Status

On view

Object number2023.18