Agustina of Aragon, 1870 Origin: Spain Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: Art is 8 x 10.5 inches, frame is 15 x 17 inches Condition: Fair Additional Information: Beautiful antique oil painting of Augustina of Aragon (see her history below). The painting is hand-signed at the bottom right and is dated 1870. The artist's signature is illegible due to some paint loss and markings where the portrait was mounted under the frame. Some small areas of the painting have marks or spots of paint loss. Crazing is present primarily at the bottom of the painting. Some history on Agustina de Aragon: On June 15, 1808, the French army stormed the Portillo, an ancient gateway into the city defended by a hodgepodge battery of old cannons and a heavily outnumbered volunteer unit. Agustina, arriving on the ramparts with a basket of apples to feed the gunners, watched the nearby defenders fall to French bayonets. The Spanish troops broke ranks, having suffered heavy casualties, and abandoned their posts. With the French troops a few yards away, Agustina herself ran forward, loaded a cannon, and lit the fuse, shredding a wave of attackers at point-blank range. The sight of a lone woman bravely manning the cannons inspired the fleeing Spanish troops and other volunteers to return and assist her. After a bloody struggle, the French gave up the assault on Zaragoza and abandoned their siege for a few short weeks before returning to fight their way into the city, house-by-house. With the human cost proving truly terrible on both sides and the city's defenses hopelessly compromised, Palafox finally accepted the inevitable and was forced to surrender the city to the French. Despite the eventual defeat, Agustina's action became an inspiration to those opposing the French.