Museum map

• Room 1. Familiar background
• Room 2. First period
• Staircase
• Room 3. The chapel
• Room 4. The origins of deepness
• Room 5. Similarities
• Room 6. The Essence of Cordoba

• About us |
• Accessibility |
• Museum's website
• Points of sale and prices

• Spanish |
• English

Sibyl of Alpujarra Audiodescription.

• Museum Map >
• Room 4. The origins of deepness >
• Sibyl of Alpujarra

This portrait made in 1911 shows the flamenco singer Carmen Casena. The artist's use of external and Italian element was often criticized. Nevertheless, this is one of his characteristic features.
The figure of this mature woman has a certain sensual appearance and looks like witch. She is richly dressed in a suit with golden brocades, in the Renaissance fashion. She wears a shall on her shoulders that highlights the bright skin on her face and neck. Her mysterious dark eyes are framed by perfectly outlined eyebrows and wavy hair the same colour. Her hair-style is casual. The pointy nose and half-open mouth help to give her an air of mystery. In her crossed hands she holds a deck of cards showing a card with four gold coins, symbol of amorous disappointment in the Spanish deck of cards.
Romero de Torres gave to this painting the name of a legendary Spanish character, the Sibyl of Alpujarra.
The composition contains two planes: in the first plain appears the Sibyl, whose mysterious expression seems to be keeping a secret about the figure on second plane. This second figure is leaning against a door-frame, as if she were waiting for something we do not know. In the background the painter depicted the horizon with a weak and green light, as well as the hills, a river and, a bit closer, the round crown of a tree.