Two men talking to a matchmaker

This small painting is the work of the romantic painter Leonardo Alenza, who always presented a critical view of society in his works, closely reminiscent of Goya’s art. Here, he depicts a figure characteristic of the period’s collective imagination: the matchmaker, a character made popular by the works of Fernando de Rojas, a shrewd woman who guided a young man towards marriage, whether it suited him or not. Opposite this elderly matchmaker, who is leaning on a walking stick, we see two men, who are possibly seeking her matchmaking services. Alenza’s work is characterised by a loose, brushstroke-based technique and a palette dominated by muted brown tones.