Loewe releases first shots of new brand icon Penlope Cruz

The Spanish actress appears in the Spring-Summer 2013 advertising campaign for Spanish brand Loewe, shot byMert Alas and Marcus Piggott.

The first of two images released so far by the brand shows Cruz leaning against a mirror with a luxurious coralcolored Paseo bag (1,400), with the star shot in Madrid's sumptuous Palacio Marqus de Villafranca.

The 38-year-old actress also appears in a second image, posing alongside a classical statue and holding one of the label's classic Amazon handbags in black, with one of the palace's equestrian murals behind her in the new Mert & Marcus images.

Cruz is a star of world cinema, having honed her craft in her native country and then starring in hit Hollywood films including "Vanilla Sky," "Blow" and Woody Allen's "Vicky Cristina Barcelona." The actress, who is married to "Skyfall" villain Javier Bardem, is also designing a new lingerie line for Agent Provocateur called L'Agentalongside her sister Monica.

Loewe is a veritable institution when it comes to luxury leather goods in Spain, but the brand has recently focused more heavily on the international reputation of its ready to wear lines, appointing British designer Stuart Vevers as Creative Director in 2008.Founded as a leather workshop in 1846, the company was purchased by LVMH in 1996.