There are several theories as to who might be represented in both of Goya's Maja paintings. The Duchess of Alba, who is known to have modeled for him, is one possibility. See the related link for more information.
There have been many famous nude paintings throughout history. They include fine pieces such as Francisco de Goya y Lucentes' "La Maja Desnuda" (The Nude Maja), Sandro Botticelli's "Nascita di Vernere (The Birth of Venus), and Rembrandt van Rijn's "Bathsheba with King David's Letter" (or "Bathsheba at her Bath").
The duchess of Alba was said to have been having an affair with Goya. In his painting of her Portrait of the Duchess of Alba1797, she is pictured wearing her funeral garb of the maja after the death of the duke, pointing down at goyas name in the dirt as well as wearing a ring on her finger with his face or initials on it (can't remember which). Also he was appointed spanish court painter so he also knew Carlos IV, Count Floridablanca, amongst many writers, philosophers, and other artists of his time.
Francisco Goya was a Spanish painter and printmaker, famous for The Naked Maja.
GOYA
'THe Naked Maja' (la Maja desnuda) was painted about 1800 by Francisco Goya.
Maja
Goya painted two similar pictures which hang in the Prado Museum in Madrid. One is "The Naked Maja" ("La maja desnuda") and the other is "The Clothed Maja." A maja was a fashionable woman. Supposedly, the clothed one was painted to save the lady's reputation, although it is unknown who she was. He could claim he'd painted that one from life, and simply imagined what she looked like unclothed. Nude portraits were not common, and tended to be of muses or goddesses.
La maja de Goya El Musical - 1996 TV is rated/received certificates of: Spain:T (theatrical)
There have been many famous nude paintings throughout history. They include fine pieces such as Francisco de Goya y Lucentes' "La Maja Desnuda" (The Nude Maja), Sandro Botticelli's "Nascita di Vernere (The Birth of Venus), and Rembrandt van Rijn's "Bathsheba with King David's Letter" (or "Bathsheba at her Bath").
La maja de Goya El Musical - 1996 TV was released on: Spain: 19 December 1996 (theatrical release) USA: 25 September 1997 (re-release) USA: 25 November 1997 (re-release)
Goya's goal in his painting was to display all the evil in the world. He was the court painter for King Carlos IV of Spain, and he did not think much of the king of the court. His paintings condemned their decadent lives. He also was reputed to have had an affair with La Duquessa de Alba. He painted her in "La Maja Vestida" and "La Maja Desnuda". Going with the theme of pessimism, he also painted scenes from the war between France and Spain-- a war he opposed-- in "Los fusilamientos del 3 de mayo". When Goya began to lose his hearing (and later his mind), his subject matter became darker in his black period. He painted characters from mythology like Saturn and Colossus.
Maja Niles's birth name is Maja Niles.
Maja Stewart's birth name is Kathleen Maja Stewart.
Maja Johannesson's birth name is Maja Elisabet Johannesson.