I’m a huge fan of art nouveau or art belle epoch. While I googled images to make a set of coasters (It you ask nice, maybe I’ll show you the tchotchke-yet-déco coaster set. But I reserve the right to change my mind.)

Anyhow…I came across this freehand sketch.

guess who?

La Condesa de Vilches. I haven’t seen the original since the Prado in..well there were several visits. But it’s always been one of my favorite paintings. Her dark hair and Puck-ish smile. It took this random “tribute,” we’ll call it to actually get me to google who the lady in this painting was. Now I know why she has that sonrisa de cachondita. It also leaves no doubt in my mind as to  why the painting is housed in the Prado.

No disrespect to the artist, but I much prefer the original.