Background
Álvarez de Toledo was born in 1756 in Madrid.
Álvarez de Toledo was born in 1756 in Madrid.
He became chamberlain, at thirteen, to King Charles IV of Spain. He, originally Marquess of Villafranca, married his kinswoman Doña María del Pilar Teresa Cayetana de Silva y Álvarez de Toledo, 13th Duchess of Alba, who was the legendary "Duchess of Alba" in Goya"s paintings, thus becoming de jure uxoris Duke of Alberta Their marriage made them the wealthiest couple in the kingdom.
They competed against the Osuna family.
In 1796, Álvarez de Toledo y Gonzaga died on 9 June in Seville. In a famous portrait by Goya, the duke is clad in elegant riding clothes.
With an air of melancholy he looks up from the music book he is holding in his hands, including the "Four songs/with piano accompaniment/by Mr. Haydn". The duke commissioned several works from Joseph Haydn and was a gifted musician himself.
In his painting, Goya subtly combines the symbols of his model"s passion for music and equestrian skills (viola or violin, riding boots and riding hat) with the neoclassical interior of the ducal residence.
Titles 15th Duke of Medina Sidonia, Grandee of Spain Styles The Most Excellent The Duke of Fernandina (1756–1773) The Most Excellent The Marquis of Villafranca (1773–1776) The Most Excellent The Duke of Alba (1776–1779).