The Black Duchess been kept at the New York Hispanic Society, operated by the Hispanic Society of America. The "Portrait of the Duchess of Alba" was painted in 1797 by Spanish painter Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes. The work is kept at the New York Hispanic Society, owned and operated by the Hispanic Society of America. In the painting, the duchess (María Cayetana de Silva, 13th Duchess of Alba) is thirty-five years old, and her husband had died the year before, so she is dressed in mourning clothes (attire). In the painting, she is pointing to the ground, where the words "solo
James Roberts (painter) was the reason her father agreed to sit for Roberts, that the result was uncharacteristic, and that the book shown was a novel. Roberts was also a scene painter at Blenheim Palace, in 1788 and 1789. In 1789 he was designer for "The Maid of the Oaks", and "False Appearances". a translation by Henry Seymour Conway of "Trompeurs Dehors" by Louis de Boissy. By 1795, Roberts had an appointment as portrait painter to the Duke of Clarence. He exhibited again annually at the Royal Academy from 1795 to 1799. The National Portrait Gallery, London holds 52 portraits by Roberts or