Mlle de Gayangos
(later Madame Riaño)
25 September 1860

Volume 2, page 11, sitting number 1344.

[Identified as 'Mlle. de Gayangos' in the Silvy daybooks, the sitter was identified as 'Madame Riaño' on the album page.]

An article in the Times (25 February 1869) makes it clear that Madame Riaño was the daughter of Pascual de Gayangos y Arce (1809-1897), the renowned liguist, antiquarian, Orientalist and Spanish scholar.

Her father's obituary in the Times (12 October 1897) included a contribution from a Mr C. R. Low: 'You may care to mention in reference to the late distinguished Anglo-Spanish scholar, Don Pascual de Gayangos, that he was married to an Englishwoman. Over 60 years ago, when a young man, he married Miss Fanny Revell, daughter of Major Revell, of Round Oak, near Windsor, my grandfather, but she died in Spain, leaving a daughter, who, in 1851, the Great Exhibition year, was the reigning beauty of the London season, and her portrait, painted by Phillips, was exhibited in the Royal Academy and has been engraved under the name Donna Pepita. She is the wife of Signor Riano, also a famous Anglo-Spanish scholar, and her son, who was educated at Rossall, was private secretary to the Queen of Spain and recently secretary in the Spanish Legation here. Señor de Gayangos resided much in England, for he was very partial to this country, and was well known in London society, and counted amoung his friends Mr Gladstone, Lord Ripen, and a host of eminent Englishmen. He was as amicable and agreeable in private life as he was scholarly and profound in his learning.'

[From an album compled by either Captain Henry Langton or his brother, Francis Langton.]