Meet Francisco de Goya

Read About the Artist Francisco De Goya

Francisco de Goya (Spanish, 1746–1828) became Spain’s leading painter in the 1780s. He specialized in religious pictures and portraits. He noted three major influences in his work: Diego Velázquez, his predecessor as court painter to the Spanish royal family; the 17th-century Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn; and, above all, nature.

Goya welcomed and received official honors and worldly success with enthusiasm. Yet he also left a ruthless record of his patrons and scathing commentary on his times. After a severe illness in 1792 left him deaf, he turned inward and began painting dark and disturbing works. During the Napoleonic wars, Goya recorded his reactions to the occupying French army’s atrocities in his series of etchings called Disasters of War and a painting, The Third of May 1808.

By 1814, the repressive Spanish monarchy was restored, and Goya resumed painting the royals, whom he portrayed at times with unflattering frankness. When the regime of King Ferdinand VII became increasingly oppressive, Goya feared persecution and took voluntary exile in France for the final years of his life.

Questions

Write or discuss your responses.

• Who or what were the biggest influences on Goya’s art?
• What factors led to Goya to paint dark and disturbing works?

A type of print made by coating a metal plate with a protective layer, drawing a design into that coating, and then dipping the plate into acid so the exposed lines are “etched,” or eaten away. Ink is pressed into these lines and then transferred onto paper using a printing press. Etching allows artists to create detailed images with very fine lines.

Someone who financially supports artists by giving them money to create their work. Before modern art galleries and art markets existed, many artists depended on patrons—such as wealthy people, nobles, or religious groups—to fund their art and help them continue working.

Artworks showing what a specific person looks like. A portrait may look a lot like a person or show idealized characteristics.