Ángel de Saavedra Rivas
1791-1865 ; duc de
Eugène Giraud clearly had a sense of humor when he sat down to draw the Duke of Rivas! This caricature shrinks the Spanish politician and playwright Ángel de Saavedra down to a tiny, dapper figure topped with a massive, expressive head. Decked out in a formal black coat with a flashy red sash and sparkling medals, he looks every bit the important statesman—until you notice his exaggerated nose and ears. Clutching his glasses and cane, he seems ready to strut into a meeting, offering a perfect glimpse into the playful world of 19th-century artistic satire.