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Little is known about Leocadia Weiss, the woman who cared for Goya following the death of his wife Josefa Bayeu. It is probable that Weiss was a relative of the wealthy Goicoechea family, a dynasty which Goya’s son Javier had married into. It is often said that Weiss vocalised very liberal political views which was something that met with the disapproval of Goya’s family. Weiss had had an unhappy marriage with Isideo Weiss, a jeweller, from whom she separated in 1811. During the divorce proceedings, Isideo Weiss claimed “illicit conduct”. Prior to the dissolution of the marriage, Leocadia Weiss had two children. In 1814 Isideo Weiss bore a third child, Rosario, and speculation asserts that this child belonged to Goya though there is no firm evidence to support this.

Between 1814 and 1819, the works Goya produced were mostly commissioned portraits. However, Goya also produced a print series of “La Tauromaquia” which depicted bullfighting scenes. Goya also produced the altarpiece for the Cathedral of Seville, not business continuity, but Santa Justa and Santa Rufina.