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

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The 9th Duke of Osuna, portrait by Goya

the 9th duke of Osuna with his young family at Osuna (province of Sevilla) by Francisco de Goya

Don Pedro de Álcantara Téllez-Girón y Pacheco, (1756-1807), 9th Duke of Osuna (Spanish: noveno duque de Osuna) since April 1787, when his father, the 8 Duke, Pedro Zoilo Téllez Girón y de Guzmán , (27th June 1728 - 1 April 1787) , died was a co-founder of a society for the promotion of national cultural consciousness, known as Sociedad Económica de Amigos del País, (Madrid branch). His mother was really named María Vicenta Tellez - Girón, (28 July 1735 - marries 1753 - ???) but even so he is known as a Pacheco, perhaps because of the extensive family comnnections between Téllez - Girón's and Pacheco's since the XV Century.

In 1772, he married María Josefa de la Soledad de la Portería Alfonso de Pimentel , (1750-1834), who became thus 9th Duchess Consort of Osuna, 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.

Another of the children from Goya's painting was known as Pedro de Álcantara Téllez-Girón y Pimentel , (1776 - 1851), Principe de Anglona, Captain General of the Island of Cuba from 10th January 1840 to 7th March 1841, and who was substituted by Jerónimo Valdés y Sierra, (1784 - 1855), Captain General of the Island of Cuba from 7th March 1841 to 13th September 1843.

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^ Pedro de Alcántara Téllez-Girón held an extraordinary number of titles. In addition to being the 9th Duke of Osuna, he was also the 8th Marquis of Peñafiel, the 13th Count of Ureña, the 15th Count and 12th Duke of Benavente, Duke of Gandía, Duke of Arcos, Duke of Medina, Duke of Ríoseco, Duke of Béjar, Marquis of Lombay, and Grandee of Spain (from 1787), among others.