The National Gallery announced that a pair of rarely lent royal portraits will be coming to London as a late addition to the landmark exhibition Goya: The Portraits, sponsored by Credit Suisse, which opens on October 7. Charles IV in Hunting Dress and María Luisa wearing a Mantilla, both painted in 1799, are last minute loans from the Patrimonio Nacional in Spain.

This is only the second time the paintings have ever been lent as a pair and only the second time they have ever left Spain. The royal portraits, which are of major importance to the artistic heritage of Spain, are in excellent, original condition and still in their original gilt wood frames having hung in the Palacio Real, Madrid ever since they were created by the iconic Spanish painter.