It shows Joaquina Téllez-Girón, Marquise of Santa Cruz clad in a very light white dress, lying sideways on a red divan.

The composition of the work is similar to Antonio Canova's sculpture of Paolina Borghese as Venus Victrix.

The portrait is also similar to Diego Velázquez and, to an extent, to Titian's depictions of Venus.

The flowers on her head are a reference to Bacchus, while the lyre-guitar with its resemblance to the ancient lyre is a homage to art and Apollo.

[citation needed] This painting inspired one pastiche or fantasy portrait depicted in the comedy film Mortdecai (2015), starring Johnny Depp and Gwyneth Paltrow.