Goya

“Father of Modern Art”, “a visionary”, “a politically sound artist” one can use many phrases to describe Goya - the painter, but what about Goya the man? Well one can say that Goya the painter was Goya the man because his art spoke so much about his ideologies and concerns that they became his voice… Goya was born in Fuendetodos, in the province of Saragossa in 1746 to Joseph Goya and Gracia Lucientes. He spent his childhood in Fuendetodos.he moved to Madrid to study painting under Anton Raphael Mengs.Goya began his painting career just after the Baroque period. His candid illustration of feelings made him the pioneer of new artistic tendencies, which were to come to fruition in the 19th century. Monet and Picasso learnt a lot from Goya’s style.



His early works were remarkable but not revolutionary. When he contracted a high fever in 1792 Goyawas 42 yrs old. this fever left him deaf and he became withdrawn and introspective. During the five years he spent recuperating, made an effort to learn about the French Revolution and its repercussions. The dark visions of the revolution haunted his paintings. Though dark, his paintings are not solely bleak in nature and demonstrate the artist's sharp satirical wit.

Goya finally found his art.

Goya’s Paintings

The Third of May 1808: Famous Painting by Goya

Goya depicts an imaginary scene from the Spanish war of liberation when many innocent citizens were shot by Napoleon's troops. The painting measures 3.45 by 2.66 meters, was completed in 1814 and is on display in Museo del Prado, in Madrid. The picture was painted by order of the King together with "The Charge of the Mamelukes" inspire Madrid’s people to stand against the forces of Napoleon. This painting does not show an incident that Goya saw with his own eyes; rather it is an illustration of the horrors of war.