Francisco Goya Engravings, Paintings and Royal Portraits

Francisco de Goya (continued)

Goya, engraver and illustrator: made the engravings series listed below: the whims inspired his imagination in such popular aspects of the people, the disasters of war and social policies, bullfighting (to illustrate a book about bullfighting — Goya felt a great interest), and representations of nonsense and illogical dream worlds difficult to interpret.

Blindman's Buff (Selectivity) — 1791

Blindman's Buff (selectivity): 1791, oil on canvas. The painting in the Prado Museum is a genre scene. This work, painted in 1791, belongs to the first stage when Goya worked as a painter of cartoons. His work is characterized by the representation of gay themes of festivals and games with figures dressed in traditional costumes. In the words of the painter, it represents a circle of several young men and ladies playing blindman's buff. The players wear costumes of peasants and majos with nets in their hair. Popular inspiration from the village that Goya began to use becomes more subtle in this painting. Figures are smaller; white and gray colors predominate. The mood of the scene is kind and polite. Hauser: art becomes more humane and less pretentious, accessible not to express the greatness but the beauty and grace of life.

Countess of Anise

Countess of Anise: oil on canvas. It is in the Prado Museum and is an individual portrait. Goya in this work portrays the young countess pregnant and wearing luxurious clothes to show her status. Goya sends us a sweet and melancholy face. The light seems to emanate from the countess herself.

Carlos IV Family

Carlos IV Family: oil on canvas, in the Prado Museum; it is a group portrait. In this portrait of the royal family Goya displays loose and vigorous brushwork. In this group portrait all members of the royal family are shown standing, given the shallow depth of the scene. As in Las Meninas by Velázquez, the painter is portrayed in the darkness before the easel. From left to right: Don Carlos; Prince Ferdinand; Maria Josefa (the prince's fiancée); Queen Doña Maria Isabel; Maria Luisa; Don Francisco de Paula; King Carlos IV; Don Antonio Pascual; Doña Carlota Joaquina; Don Luis and his wife Doña Maria Luisa, with Luis Carlos, a child, in her arms. Goya used light with great wisdom. The front line is a very neoclassical composition. Goya wanted to add his name by imitating Las Meninas by Velázquez, introducing himself as the protagonist of the scene. The faces belie their individual characters; it is the position of the queen which summarizes the genius of Goya.

(continuous x Goya works)