La maja vestida
By Francisco Goya, 1800
Stretched out among soft pillows, this young woman meets our eyes with an easy, self-assured smile. Francisco Goya painted her around 1800 and titled the work "La maja vestida," or The Clothed Maja. She wears a flowing white gown brightened by a golden jacket and a soft pink sash at her waist. The term "maja" described a stylish young woman from Madrid's working-class districts, women who were famous for their daring fashion and lively personalities. Goya rendered her with quick, loose brushstrokes that give the whole scene a friendly, sunlit glow.
The real intrigue lies in this painting's twin. Goya made a nearly identical companion called "La maja desnuda," showing the same woman nude in the exact same pose. Both belonged to Manuel de Godoy, a powerful Spanish official, and the clothed version may have served as a cover to hide the nude one from unwanted eyes. Nobody knows for certain who the model was, though guesses have ranged from the Duchess of Alba to Godoy's own mistress. The nude version eventually drew the attention of the Spanish Inquisition, which disapproved of art this frankly sensual.
Both paintings now hang together at the Prado Museum in Madrid, where visitors can stand before them and study one of art history's most talked-about pairs.