Sunday, April 03, 2011

Angélica de Alquézar

Dama aragonesa, nacida en 1611 o 1612. Huérfana a temprana edad, fue recogida y educada por su tío Luís de Alquézar, secretario del rey. Introducida en la corte, fue menina de la reina. Mantuvo una ardiente y tormentosa relación de amor y odio con Íñigo Balboa, a quien conoció en 1623, la cual tuvo su apogeo hacia 1630-1634. De celebrada hermosura, fue retratada por Velázquez sobre 1635. Murió joven, sin alcanzar la treintena, antes de 1640.
Arturo Perez-Reverte



Angélica de Alquézar

A lady from Aragon, born in 1611 or 1612. She was an orphan at a young age. She was adopted and educated by her uncle Luís de Alquézar who was a secretary to the king. She was introduced to court and became a lady-in-waiting to the queen. She had and ardent and tumultuous affair of love and hate with Íñigo de Balboa, whom she met in 1623. The affair peaked 1630-1634. She was famous for her beauty and was painted by Velázquez around 1635. She died young before she was 30 in 1640. Velázquez’ painting was lost, when a ship conveying it sank in the Gualdalquivir River. This middle 19th century Talbotype by an anonymous photographer purports to be a portrait of a young woman that resembled the painting. This is unlikely as the painting was lost in the 18th century.

D'Artagnan's Girl