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| Francisco de Goya (1746–1828) | ||||||||||
| A Spanish painter, Goya was born in Fuendetodos, near Saragossa, and lived there until the age of sixteen without any formal exposure to art. His passion for painting was sparked by a monk at Santa Fé near Zaragoza, and he soon began studying under José Luzán y Martínez, who had trained in Naples under Giuseppe Mastroleo. Goya's early career was marked more by his involvement in the streets, particularly in conflicts between painters and artistic societies, which occasionally led to violence. After one such altercation, fearing the Inquisition's emissaries, he fled to Madrid. At the time, Spain's provinces were still vastly different from one another, so he lived relatively safely until further incidents led to new dangers. Eventually, he travelled to Italy and settled in Rome, where he met Louis David. The two shared ideas not only on art but also on religion and politics. Goya returned to Spain in 1774, married, and committed himself fully to his profession. His youth reflected the character of his paintings: bold, wild, and infused with a strange, almost infernal beauty. In terms of execution, he stands as the only Spanish artist of extraordinary calibre during the latter half of the 18th century and the early 19th century. His body of work includes church paintings in both fresco and oil, fantastical life scenes, around 200 portraits, and numerous miscellaneous works. He was also known for his etchings and aquatints, with The Caprices being particularly striking, depicting humanity in its most brutal and grotesque forms, blended with moments of beauty and a touch of demonology. During the French occupation of Spain and their eventual expulsion by Wellington, Goya lived quietly, avoiding involvement in political matters. Appointed court painter by Charles IV in 1789, he published The Disasters of War in 1814, a haunting series of seventeen designs that are as disturbing as they are captivating. Goya died in Bordeaux. | ||||||||||
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Art