Bust of "Manola"

"Spanish woman representation, often assimilated to the gypsy or Andalucian woman and known with the expression “manola” “maja” “chula” or “flamenco”, was a quite popular topic in the European art of the XIX century since Spain became a trending country due to the Romantic trips.

In this case the look of the face suggests that the model is not a gypsy but, according to the aesthetic opinions and that moment bourgeois taste, it must be a middle-class woman dressed as a “Maja”.

The short jacket that wears, reminds the uniform that the zuaus soldiers of the French colonial troop wore, when there were in fashion."