FRANCISCO DE GOYA

He lived between 1746 and 1828
He was a court painter during the reigns of Charles IV, Joseph I and Francisco VII. 

Goya was the most significant Spanish artist of his time,

  His style is difficult to classify because of:

- His professional career as a court painter 

- The historical context of the Spanish War of Independence 

- His deafness

He also support enlightenment ideas, and he moved to Bordeaux (France) because of Ferdinand VII´s absolutism.

His works are faithful reproduction of the events Spain experienced during de War of Independence

THE   DEVELOPMENT    OF     GOYA´S   WORK

1771-1808:  COURT  PAINTER

Cartoons for tapestries: The grape harvest

Portraits of the royal family and nobility: The family of Charles IV

Religious paintings: Frescoes in The Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida, in Madrid

Prints from etchings: The caprice number 43 (of a group of  80 paintings)

The characteristics and techniques of this period in his paintings are:

- Paintings of local festivals; use of pastel colours

- Depiction of people´s psycological characteristics; attention to the detail of clothing and fabric

- Representation of the miracles of St Anthony; sense of depth

- Criticism of Spanish customs

1808-1820:  WAR  OF  INDEPENDENCE

Historical themes: The 2nd of May 1808 and the 3rd of May 1808

Prints from engravings: The disasters of war

The characteristics and techniques of this period in his paintings are:

- Protests against the horrors of the war; variety of different poses with lots of actions

- Criticism of the Ancien Régime and war; depictions of bullfighting themes

1820-1828:  EXILE  IN  FRANCE

Black paintings: Two old men eating soup

Burgundy paintings: The milkmaid of Bordeaux

The characteristics and techniques of this period in his paintings are:

- Reflections on old age and death; dark colours and night scenes

- Depictions of daily life; loose brush-strokes and less-defined figures