LA CASA DE ZAPORTA, TAMBIÉN LLAMADA CASA DE LA INFANTA. PATIO DE LA INFANTA. SU HISTORIA.

In 1549, Gabriel Zaporta, a descendant of Jewish converts, built one of Zaragoza's most beautiful Renaissance palaces on what is now known as San Jorge Street. The central courtyard is so beautiful that its owner dispensed with a vestibule, making it visible from the entrance itself, thus allowing him to show it off to the neighbors passing by. Over the years, the building was occupied by notable figures, among them María Teresa de Vallabriga, Countess of Chinchón. A native of Zaragoza, she married Infante Don Luis, brother of King Charles III. At the age of 26, she was widowed and decided to return to her hometown in 1792, settling in part of the Zaporta House, which from then on would be known as the House of the Infanta. Francisco de Goya dedicated several canvases to her. In one of the paintings, the artist appears on the left of the image, capturing a scene in which, alongside some ladies and courtiers, Don Luis is seen playing cards while the Infanta's hair is being styled. Their three children are also present. The 19th century proved fatal for the building's future. Its owners divided it into sections, and its spaces were occupied by various tenants. Among them were the School of Fine Arts, the Liberal Monarchist Center, several lumber companies, a piano workshop, the Artistic and Literary Lyceum, and the Catholic Workers' Circle. Finally, the building was demolished in 1903, although the courtyard was preserved after its dismantling. In 1909, the Savings Bank and Pawnshop acquired the site of the former Infanta's House and built its headquarters there. In 1904, the French antique dealer Fernand Schultz bought the courtyard for 17,000 pesetas. He installed it in his establishment in Paris. In 1958, the Caja de Ahorros de Zaragoza (Savings Bank of Zaragoza) acquired it for three million pesetas. In 1980, it was installed in the new Ibercaja headquarters, after having been restored to its original splendor. SOURCES. PAINTINGS AND ENGRAVINGS. Engraving of the Patio de la Infanta. Jenaro Pérez de Villamil. Taken from the book "España artística y monumental..." (Artistic and Monumental Spain...). BDH. Drawing of the Patio de la Infanta. Valentín Carderera. Lázaro Galdiano Museum. María Teresa de Villabriga. Francisco de Goya. 1783. Neue Pinakothek München (Museum of Fine Arts). María Teresa de Villabriga at 24 years old. Francisco de Goya. 1783. Pérez Simón Collection. Mexico. Wikipedia. The Family of Infante Don Luis de Borbón. Francisco de Goya. 1784. Magnani-Rocca Foundation of Mamiano di Traversetolo. Wikipedia. PHOTOGRAPHS. Courtyard of the Zaporta House or of the Infanta. Four photographs taken by Jean Laurent. 1874-1877. Berlin Museum. Gallery of the Infanta's Courtyard. Pano Family. AHPH. Gallery of the Infanta's Courtyard. Coyne. AHPZ. Detail of the Infanta's Courtyard. Jean Laurent. Entrance Hall. University of Zaragoza. Windows on the Upper Floor of the Infanta's Courtyard. Charles Clifford. 1860. Metropolitan Museum. Disassembled Pieces of the Courtyard of the Zaporta House. Coyne Studio. 1903. AHPZ. Don Jaime I Street. Jarke. 1954. AMZ. Two images of the Infanta's Courtyard installed in the Schultz Galleries. Collectors' website. Remaining photographs. Mario Maganto Berdejo. MUSIC. Prelude No. 1 in C Major. Johann Sebastian Bach. YouTube. TEXT AND EDITING. Mario Maganto Berdejo.