Pedro de Álcantara Téllez-Girón, 9th Duke of Osuna

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Don Pedro de Álcantara Téllez-Girón y Pacheco, (1756-1807), 9th Duke of Osuna (Spanish: noveno duque de Osuna) was a co-founder of a society for the promotion of national cultural consciousness.

In 1772, he married Maria-Josefa Soledad de la Portería Alfonso de Pimentel (1750-1834), an extraordinarily intelligent and accomplished woman. An educated man interested in scientific and cultural innovations, the duke was an outstanding example of the late 18th century aristocrat, a man who tried to modernize backward Spanish society according to the precepts of the Age of Enlightenment. The duke and his wife were major patrons of the arts and among the most important clients of the painter Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes.

In a famous portrait, Goya portrays the Duke of Osuna without any medals in front of a dark background. The only indication of his military background is the truncheon he holds. The vivid dark eyes of the aristocrat lend the sensitively-painted portrait an amazing presence. With lively brush-strokes, the painter created a richly varied surface structure, capturing the reflection of light on the duke's clothing.

In another famous painting by Goya, the ducal family is portrayed. In the large painting, Goya succeeded in perceiving the soul of his subjects with great skill and wisdom. In this serene group the easy-going nature of the duke, the duchess’s intelligence and the subtly differentiated innocence of their four children was captured by Goya.

One of his children was Joaquina Téllez-Girón, Marchioness of Santa Cruz, who was also portrayed by Goya.

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