An Appreciation:
Francisco Goya

Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes was the most important Spanish painter of the early 19th century. Very influencial, his work includes Rococo depcitions of happy everyday scenes, realistic portraits of the rich and powerful and expressionistic mystical visions.

Goya was born into a lower middle class family on March 30, 1746. His father was a gilder but the family home near Saragosa bore a crest indicating his mother's ties to an impoverished noble family.

Francisco began studying art with a local artist Don Jose Luzan. However in 1763, he moved to Madrid in order to compete for a scholarship to the Academy of San Fernando. Both of his attempts to enter this prestigious academy failed.

Therefore, Goya set off to study in Rome. According to legend, he worked his way to Italy as a bullfighter. In 1771, he received an honoralble mention in a competition held by the Academy of Parma. However, again according to legend, he had to leave Italy after a failed attempt to elope with a young nun.

After a brief stay in Saragosa where he undertook some religious commissions, Goya returned to Madrid. There, he entered the studio of Francisco Bayeu, who was painter to the king. This connection, not only brought Goya a wife - - Bayeu's sister - - but it also introduced Goya to the Spanish court. Goya was commissioned to produce cartoons for the Royal Carpet Factory. Goya produced more than 40 tapestry designs over the years showing the brighter side of life in a Rococo style.

Goya's connection to the court also brought him membership in the Academy of San Fernando and commissions to do portraits of the Spanish elite.

In 1786, Goya was appointed court painter to King Charles III. When Charles III died in 1788, his heir, Charles IV, appointed Goya Painter of the Chamber, the highest position an artist could hold at court.  Goya did a number of portraits of the king and queen including a large group portrait “The Family of Charles IV.” Although much admired by the royal family, thee pictures are often said to be satirical as they are unflattering and make the royals look like inbred buffoons.

During this time, Goya is rumored to have had a relationship with the beautiful Duchess of Alba. He did a number of portraits of her including one in which she is wearing a ring engraved with both her name and his. However, his famous seductive paintings “The Naked Maja” and “The Clothed Maja” are not of Alba. Rather, they were commissioned by Prime Minister Manuel de Godoy and are probably of his mistress or are a composite figure created by Goya..

In 1793, Goya suffered a long illness from an unknown disease that left him deaf. After that, he increasing turned inward producing works with macabre elements. For example, the series of etchings that he did around this time, “Los Capricios”, include witches, monsters and other nightmarish creatures. The death of Alba, allegedly from poisoning in 1802, further contributed to Goya's depression.

During the early Napoleonic Wars, Spain had been an ally of France from time-to-time. To secure this uncertain ally, Napoleon invaded Spain in 1808 and installed his brother Joseph as king. Napoleon had thought that the oppressed Spanish would welcome the French inasmuch as they were bringing the liberal ideas of the French Revolution to Spain but the Spanish resisted this foreign invader. This led to fierce fighting and the deaths of many civilians.

Goya continued as court painter for the new king. He did portraits of the French leaders and their circle. In addition, he was put in charge of selecting 50 works from Spanish collections for a museum Napoleon had created in Paris. Consequently, after the French were driven out of Spain and the Bourbon king Ferdinand VII took the throne, Goya was questioned by the Inquisition about his cooperation with the French.

To show where his sympathies lay, Goya created two paintings: “The Second of May” and “The Third of May” depicting the Spanish uprising against the French in 1808 and the harsh reprisals the French inflicted. He could also point to the portraits he had done of the Duke of Wellington and other allied leaders who fought against Napoleon. Although they were not published until 35 years after his death, Goya was also working on a series of etchings “The Horrors of War” showing this brutal conflict.

Ferdinand allowed Goya to continue as court painter. However, relations between King and artist were not cordial.  The King was a reactionary while Goya had liberal leanings.  Perhaps not surprisingly, Goya received no commissions from the king although he did paint six portraits of him for various ministries.

Goya retreated further into himself. He purchased a house outside of Madrid known as "The House of the Dear Man.” On its walls he painted his “Black Paintings” - - expressionistic works with mystical subjects.

By 1824, it was clear that Goya had no future at Ferdinand's court so he obtained permission to travel to France ostensibly for health reasons. Settling in Bordeaux, Goya continued to paint including three portraits of his maid Leocadia Weiss. Goya died there in 1828.

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Above: "The Parasol" - one of Goya's designs for a tapestry.

Below: "The Family of King Charles IV."

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Above: Goya was a prolific portrait painter.

Below: "The Naked Maja."   

Above: "The Third of May".

Below: One of Goya's last works "The Milk Maid."

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Artist appreciation - Francisco Goya