Year of release: 2006

Year of cancellation: 2011

Sculptor: Marco Antonio Noguerón

Measures: 30x24 cm

MY STORY

MARGARITA TERESA DE AUSTRIA

LA MENINA

My name is Margarita Teresa de Austria. I was born on July 12th of 1651. Daughter of Philip IV and Mariana from Austria, I am well known as “the Menina” thanks to the picture painted by D. Diego de Velazquez, who immortalize me among my family and companions ladies, when I was only five years old.

In 1663 when I was twelve, I was engaged with my uncle Leopold I of Habsburg, brother of my mother. Due to my father´s death Felipe IV and for several political reasons as succesion rights, the wedding was delayed for three years until April 25th, 1666, I got married by proxy. 

Six months last my trip to Viena where I was received by the Emperor, who celebrated my arrival with great feasts.

Unfortunatly my life was short. I had four children, two sons and two daughters, but only one survived, María Antonia de Austria. On March 12th  1673,  I pass away when I was only twenty two, when I gave birth to my fourth daughter.

Someone said: you die when you come into the forgetfulness túnnel, but this is not my case.

Icon of Madrid, I always woke up restlessness. Many people have studied the picture and symbols of the painting by  Diego Velazquez titled “Las Meninas” exposed at the Prado Museum.  Never before I went out of the Prado until Mr. Carlos Sanchez a great admirer, had the idea to use me as a business advise, the replicas were developed by the Valencian artist Mr. José Puche.

Finally a couple of years later on December 22th 1996, I was exhibited between my mother Mariana and Mr. Velazquez on the balconies of the Count de Casal Palace, facing to the Prado Museum.

My body rests in Austria, in the Capuchinos Monastery Crypt of Viena, but my soul returned to Madrid and I still here giving a cause to talk and as inspiration to new artists.

Information:

This figure transports us to the sumptuous atmosphere of the Spanish Golden Age, a time that the great brush of Velázquez forever associated the expression, between serene and haughty, of the meninas of the court.

With this denomination, of Portuguese origin, it was designated to the women who from girls entered the service of the queen or the infantas.

The new Menina is a continuation of its predecessor, the Lady of the Spanish court, but with an original aesthetic based on geometry.

It belongs to the Utopía Collection of Lladró.