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Tawny Mathi
Professor Trudy Richardson
Art 1010
July 19
th
, 2014
Francisco Jose de Goya y Lucientes
Francisco Jose de Goya y Lucientes was a famous Spanish painter and portraitist. He was
born on March 30
th
, 1746. He is considered the most important Spanish artist of the eighteenth
century and possibly ever. He carried out his work beginning in the latter half of 18
th
century
through the early 19
th
century. His works covered more than 60 years that included a wide range
of art which include oil-paintings, drawings, and tapestries to name a few. It can be said that he
had two distinct style of art, two careers. Goya studied under famous painter Jose Luzan, who
was named reviewer of paintings by the Spanish Inquisition. He then moved to Madrid where he
joined Anton Raphael Mengs, another popular painter of the Spanish royalty. Through Mengs, he
started to create works for the royal family in Spain. He was the leading Spanish artist in the later
part of the eighteenth century and became the most famous and leading artist of Spain during his
time. One of the most interesting aspects of Goyas artwork was its transformation. All of
Goyas works were created eloquently and done in amazing detail However, over the course of
his lifetime, though the exquisite detail remained, his worked changed to dark and depressing.
His works varied greatly in his lifetime. He could paint the sweetness of children but also had
works that were entrenched in the horror of monsters. He was influenced by the events of his
days and depicted them as he perceived them. To some, the later works is the reason why many
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art historians today consider him a genius as he was considered both in the mold of an old master
and the father of modern art.
The Beginning
While Goya was a student under Jose Luzan, he learned by imitation where he copied the
works of great artists. In this apprenticeship, he learned the principles of drawing. He stayed with
Luzan for years and his work at a young age was heavily influenced by his master. That is until
he went to Rome. In his late teens, he submitted entries to be accepted into the Spanish Royal
Academy. As in all famous artists, he was denied entry. This feels like a story retold for many
artist who found great success later in life. It has been told that because he was denied to the
academy, he embarked on his journey to Italy which was considered the center of the art world at
the time. It wasnt until Italy did Goya begin to develop and hone his own style of painting. He
traveled to many cities in Italy constantly honing his skills and studying. He entered his artwork
into a competition and won runner-up. He stayed for a couple of years and studied art during his
time here. He most likely would have stayed longer if he were not called back to Spain to paint a
fresco on the ceiling of the Basilica. This painting became to be known as The Adoration of the
Name of God. He was an unknown artist at this time and received less than what other artists
were paid for similar paintings. However, it was only the beginning of the storied career of
Francisco Goya.
In 1775, Goya married Josefa Bayeu. He had met Josefa through her two brothers,
Francisco and Roman Bayeu, who were established Spanish artists. Together they lived in
Zaragoza until he was invited by Mengs to Madrid on behalf of the Spanish Crown. At the time,
Mengs was the First Painter to the King. Goya was commissioned to paint cartoons of the time
which would be later made into tapestries. Designing these pieces were neither prestigious nor
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well paid, but he used them to become noticed in the art world. It brought him worldwide
attention and he became a very in-demand artist. The Spanish monarchy had to take notice. He
climbed the ladder to eventually become the First Painter to the King after Mengs. The title was
the most prestigious position for an artist in Spain. He had finally made it to the top of the art
world in Spain. He loved the attention and bragged to friends that the monarchy couldnt help
but commission him for his work.
Personal Struggle
Goyas career in art for the majority of his life can be described as a famous artist with
many nobles garnering his attention. His personal life however, was not a life that one would say
went as planned. His marriage with Josefa produced eight children. With the exception of his last
child, they did not survive or died in infancy. A serious illness in 1792 left Goya deaf and at
deaths door. Its a turning point of his art to a dark, fantasy world. He endured prolonged
physical illness and was fearful of a nervous breakdown. He also experienced anxiety, self-doubt
and felt he was going mad in his own words. In 1808, France turned on Spain and invaded. The
occupation of Spain by France is said to have heavily weighed on Goya. The ensuing Spanish
Civil war also did not help Goyas outlook on humankind. The mood and meaning of his
paintings seem to change. An artist over the course his or her career continues to grow and his
works change over time, but the change of Goya experiences was very different from this natural
process. If comparing two paintings of his, one from early in his career to one later in his life,
most would not think they were painted by the same artist. The war and occupation seemed to
have affected him in a profound way. In this change, he created the Disasters of War series. They
were a set of 80 prints that highlight the traumas of war. They nature of the prints were so
disturbing they were not published until 50 years after his death.
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Acclaimed Works
It wasnt until later in the eighteenth century did Goya became well-known. His work in
tapestries for the Spanish Monarchy was a point in his life where he went from unknown to
being a famous. One painting that stood out at this time was the portrait of Count Floridablanca.
It was his first important commissioned portrait that started his ascent to become the leading
artist of Madrid. The importance of the painting was Goya believed it was his foot in the door to
other paintings of nobility. He eventually did paint portraits for the monarch that included
Charles III and Charles IV.
Another painting of Goyas that stood out was the portrait of The Duke and Duchess of
Osuna and their Children. The paintings most notable aspect is how the children were
portrayed. The expression shown in the faces of the children were portrayed as childlike
innocence and sweetness. Goya was able to detail this expression and portray those looks very
accurately. In this painting, there is a dog barely visible in the background. Even though it was a
subtle part of the painting, it was considered impressive quality.
At the turn of the century, Goyas mood and artwork began to change, though the quality
remained unaffected. His paintings became more violent and dark. Due to this type of work, he
lost favor in the court and lived the rest of his life in seclusion. The dark and violent works
however continued. The most famous collection of these works became known as The Black
Paintings. These were 14 paintings made directly inside the walls of his home. The most
recognizable of the series was a large old-man with menacing eyes devouring a human form. He
didnt name these paintings. There are experts that contend that it was depiction Saturn
devouring his children. Many at the time felt his work was too negative, too modern. His
detractors stated they were painted to frightened and scare the weak minded. Even after he
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started these paintings, it did not affect his career. He was still commissioned by the Queen of
Spain to paint her portrait.
Lasting Legacy
Goya died at the age of 82 in 1828 the result of a stroke. He was exiled to France and
died in Bordeaux. His body was moved to Spain after his death. When he was moved, it was
discovered that his head was missing. Grave robbers were believed to be responsible as it was
common in those days. Some jumped at the chance to study the skull of a great artist hoping it
would reveal its secrets. For most of his life, Goya was without peers in Spain. He was a well-
respected artist and all vied for his services. Goya could be considered a revolutionary of his
time. He openly questioned and contradicted royalty, at the expense of his security, through his
paintings. I would say that he painted the later paintings to satisfy his fantasy and imagination.
Goya is considered one of the last old school painters of the western world, but simultaneously
being one of its first modern artists. His influence can be seen in many of today artists and even
Pablo Picasso. Goyas artistic abilities were acknowledged during the years he lived and even
more so after he died. Spending decades as a court painter, he produced some of the most well-
known paintings of his time. His work later in life I believe is what sets him apart from other
artists. He expressed himself even though he may have been a little crazy. I feel that we only talk
about him today because his mood changed and produced the more modern work that he did
outside of his portraits.



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Works Cited

"Francisco Jos de Goya y Lucientes." Bio. A&E Television Networks, 2014. Web. 17 July
2014

"Francisco de Goya (17461828) and the Spanish Enlightenment." In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art
History. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 2003. Web. 15 July 2014

"Franciso Goya." WikiArt. 2014. 15 July 2014

Hughes, Robert. Goya. Knopf, 2012. eBook.

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