María Tomasa Palafox, Duchess of Medina Sidonia

He must have been seated facing sideways with his profile to the artist, unable to turn the attention to his wife until the picture was done. Goya honoured his aristocratic "colleague" with the inscription of her name on the palette; he himself signed his work with his signature on the arm of the chair. The marchioness, who is fashionably dressed in the Empire style, was certainly more than just a dabbler in art. She was an honorary member of the Madrid Academy, which also honoured her with an award.

From her marriage to the Marquis of Villafranca, she had 9 children: • Francisco Álvarez de Toledo y Palafox (1799–1816), who became the 10th Duke of Fernandina before he died aged 16. • María Teresa Alvarez de Toledo y Palafox (1801–1866), who married Joaquín Florencio Cavero de Ahones y Tarazona, 6th Count of Sobradiel. • Pedro de Alcántara Álvarez de Toledo y Palafox (1803–1867), who married María Joaquina del Pilar Silva y Téllez Girón, a daughter of José Gabriel de Silva-Bazán, 10th Marquis of Santa Cruz and Joaquina Téllez-Girón, 2nd Countess of Osilo, in 1822. • Maria del Rosario Tomasa Álvarez de Toledo y Palafox (1805–1870), who married Pedro Caro y Salas, 4th Marquis of La Romana, son of General Pedro Caro Sureda, 3rd Marquis of La Romana and Dionisia de Salas y Boixadors, in 1826. • José María Alvarez de Toledo y Palafox (1812–1885), a twin; he married María del Carmen Lucía de Acuña y Dewitte, 9th Marchioness of Casa Fuerte, a daughter of Manuel Lorenzo de Acuña, 10th Marquess of Bedmar, and María Antónia Antonia de Witte (a daughter of Carlos José de Witte y Pau), in 1837. • Ignacio Álvarez de Toledo Palafox (1812–1878), a twin; Maestrante of Sevilla.

The authorities additionally record the heading Doña Maria Tomasa de Palafox Portocarrero. Her recorded language was Spanish. She was the child of Felipe Antonio de Palafox y Croy d'Havré and María Francisca de Sales Portocarrero. She married Francisco de Borja Álvarez de Toledo, 16th Duke of Medina Sidonia. 4 children are recorded: Pedro de Alcántara Álvarez de Toledo, 17th Duke of Medina Sidonia, Francisco Álvarez de Toledo y Palafox, María Tomasa Álvarez de Toledo y Palafox and José Maria Álvarez de Toledo y Palafox.