Francisco de Goya: Masterpieces of Spanish Art

Francisco de Goya: Spanish Baroque and Beyond

The Maja Paintings

Goya's La Maja Desnuda (Naked Maja) and La Maja Vestida (Clothed Maja) were commissioned by Manuel Godoy. It is believed the body belongs to the Duchess of Alba, with a face superimposed later to avoid scandal among guests. These works are currently housed in the Prado Museum.

Portraiture and the Nobility

In the early 19th century, Goya became the most fashionable portraitist for the high nobility. Every lady of the era desired to be painted in the goyesca style.

The Duchess of Alba

Goya painted the most powerful families in Spain, including the House of Alba. As a close associate of the Duchess, he famously used her likeness for the body of the Maja paintings.

Portraits of Children

Goya painted many children of the nobility with great affection, often depicting them with their toys. A notable example features a child with a bird and a cat.

Self-Portraits and Late Style

In his early 19th-century self-portraits, Goya appears increasingly weary and withdrawn. These works hint at the onset of the illness that would eventually lead to his Black Paintings.

Transition to Expressionism

The Second of May 1808

Painted six months after the event, this work depicts the uprising against French forces. Goya utilizes strong foreshortening and dynamic movement, focusing on the "horror" of war rather than specific historical accuracy.

The Third of May 1808

Also known as The Shootings of the Third of May, this masterpiece depicts the repression of the people of Madrid by French troops. The work is defined by its dramatic use of chiaroscuro and serves as a precursor to expressionism.