Focus on this artwork and explore the About.
The Portrait of the Duchess of Alba was painted in 1797 by Spanish painter Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes. 
It is among a number of works by Goya representing María Cayetana de Silva, 13th Duchess of Alba. 
At the time the work was created, she was thirty-five years old. She is pointing to the ground, where the words "solo Goya" are lightly engraved. She is wearing two rings, one engraved with the word "Alba", the other engraved with "Goya". The inscription of the word "solo" was initially hidden, but after the painting was restored the word was revealed.Her husband, José  died in 1796. She retreated to a residence in Andalusia for a period of mourning. Goya followed and created numerous paintings and sketches of the duchess during her stay. 
There is an anecdote that one day, the duchess walked into Goya's studio and requested that he put on the duchess' makeup, then create a painting for her, which he did.
Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes María Cayetana de Silva, 13th Duchess of Alba mourning José  Andalusia