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Artist Francisco Goya
Title A manola, doña Leocadia Zorilla
Year 1819-1823
Technique Mural (later converted to canvas)
Current location Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain
Francisco Goya - Black Paintings - A manola, doña Leocadia Zorilla

A manola, doña Leocadia Zorilla

A manola, doña Leocadia Zorilla is also known as A manola or The Leocadia. Manolo (female form manola) is a nickname for an inhabitant of the low quarters of Madrid. The woman on the painting is probably Leocadia Zorilla, Goya’s live-in housekeeper, with whom he may have had a relationship. She is apparently in mourning, leaning on a funeral mound – possibly Goya’s?

A manola probably formed a pair with Two friars, painted on different sides of a door. A manola is lighter in tone and considerably less gloomy than Two friars, or any of the other downstairs paintings, depicting contemplation and melancholy rather than despair.

A manola, doña Leocadia Zorilla is on display in the Museo del Prado in Madrid.