Francisco Goya, Spanish-French painter and illustrator (b. 1746)

Francisco Goya: A Bridge Between Worlds

Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes, born on March 30, 1746, and passing away on April 16, 1828, was a towering figure in Spanish art, universally acclaimed as a Spanish Romantic painter and printmaker. His name, often pronounced in Spanish as [fɾanˈθisko xoˈse ðe ˈɣoʝa i luˈθjentes], resonates through art history as the most influential Spanish artist bridging the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Goya's prolific output, encompassing paintings, drawings, and engravings, served as a profound mirror reflecting the tumultuous historical upheavals of his era, leaving an indelible mark that profoundly shaped the trajectories of important 19th- and 20th-century painters. Indeed, he is frequently characterized as the last of the Old Masters and, simultaneously, the undeniable first of the moderns, a testament to his groundbreaking originality and foresight.

Early Life and Ascent to Court Painter

Born into a modest middle-class family in Fuendetodos, a village nestled in the heart of Aragon, Spain, in 1746, Goya's artistic journey began early. At the tender age of 14, he commenced his formal studies in painting under the guidance of José Luzán y Martinez, a local master. Seeking further artistic development and exposure, he later moved to Madrid, the vibrant cultural and political capital, where he continued his tutelage with the esteemed Anton Raphael Mengs, a prominent Neoclassical painter who held considerable sway at the Spanish court. In 1773, Goya embarked on a personal milestone, marrying Josefa Bayeu. Their family life, though marked by a series of pregnancies and heart-wrenching miscarriages, saw one son survive into adulthood. Goya’s talent did not go unnoticed, and his career ascended significantly when he was appointed a court painter to the Spanish Crown in 1786. This initial phase of his career is primarily characterized by elegant portraits of the Spanish aristocracy and royalty, capturing their likeness with a blend of deference and emerging psychological insight. He also produced charming Rococo-style tapestry cartoons, vibrant designs meticulously crafted for the royal palace, offering a glimpse into the lavish tastes of the era.

A Profound Transformation: Illness and Artistic Evolution

Despite his growing public stature, Goya remained a somewhat guarded individual, and while a collection of his letters and writings survives, they offer only limited insights into the innermost workings of his mind. A pivotal and harrowing turning point in his life occurred in 1793 when he was afflicted by a severe and, crucially, undiagnosed illness. The profound and lasting consequence of this ailment was complete deafness. This tragic personal setback irrevocably altered his artistic trajectory; his work thereafter became progressively darker, more introspective, and imbued with a palpable sense of pessimism. His later easel paintings, the powerful murals he created, and his unsettling prints and drawings began to reflect a bleak outlook on personal, social, and political levels, often standing in stark contrast to his continued ascent within the social hierarchy. Despite his private struggles, his professional reputation continued to flourish. He was appointed Director of the prestigious Royal Academy in 1795, a year that also saw Spain's prime minister, Manuel Godoy, sign an unfavorable treaty with France, foreshadowing future turmoil. By 1799, Goya achieved the pinnacle of his official career, being appointed Primer Pintor de Cámara (Prime Court Painter), the highest and most esteemed rank attainable for a Spanish court painter. During the late 1790s, at the commission of Godoy, he created his groundbreaking La maja desnuda, a nude painting remarkably daring for its time, openly demonstrating a clear artistic debt to the grand tradition established by Diego Velázquez. This was soon followed in 1800–01 by his monumental Charles IV of Spain and His Family, another masterpiece that echoed Velázquez’s profound influence while adding Goya’s unique psychological depth to the royal portraiture.

The Shadows of War and Social Critique

The turn of the 19th century plunged Spain into profound turmoil. In 1807, Napoleon's forces initiated the Peninsular War, a brutal conflict that saw the French army invade Spain. Goya, choosing to remain in Madrid throughout the war, was profoundly affected by the unspeakable horrors he witnessed. Although he rarely voiced his political opinions publicly, his deep despair and scathing critique of the war’s brutality are powerfully inferred from his iconic Disasters of War series of prints. While these harrowing images were not published until 35 years after his death, they stand as a raw, unflinching indictment of conflict and human cruelty. His 1814 paintings, The Second of May 1808 and The Third of May 1808, vividly depict the Spanish resistance and the subsequent brutal executions by French troops, immortalizing the heroism and tragedy of the uprising. Other significant works from his mid-period include the satirical Caprichos and the enigmatic Los Disparates etching series, both offering biting commentary on social follies and human irrationality. A wide variety of paintings from this era also delved into themes of insanity, the grim realities of mental asylums, the spectral world of witches, fantastical creatures, and the pervasive corruption within religious and political institutions. Collectively, these works powerfully suggest Goya's profound fear for the destiny of his beleaguered country and a palpable concern for his own mental and physical well-being.

The Black Paintings and Final Exile

Goya's late period culminates in one of art history's most haunting and enigmatic series: the Black Paintings. Created between 1819 and 1823, these extraordinary murals were applied directly in oil onto the plaster walls of his secluded country house, the Quinta del Sordo (which aptly translates to the "House of the Deaf Man"), located just outside Madrid. During this time, disillusioned by the volatile political and social developments unfolding in Spain, Goya lived in near isolation, pouring his darkest visions and psychological torment onto his walls. Eventually, feeling a profound sense of despair and alienation, Goya made the poignant decision to abandon Spain in 1824, seeking a new life of retirement in the picturesque French city of Bordeaux. He was accompanied by his much younger maid and devoted companion, Leocadia Weiss, whose precise relationship with the artist – whether platonic or romantic – remains a subject of historical speculation. During his final years in Bordeaux, Goya continued to create, completing his renowned La Tauromaquia series, which explored the drama and ritual of bullfighting, alongside a number of other significant canvases, demonstrating his undiminished creative spirit even in old age and exile.

Death, Re-interment, and Enduring Legacy

Francisco Goya’s extraordinary life concluded on April 16, 1828, at the age of 82. His final years were marked by increasing physical frailties, including a stroke that left him paralyzed on his right side, failing eyesight, and dwindling access to the precious painting materials he had always relied upon. He was initially buried in Bordeaux, but his body was later ceremoniously re-interred in 1919 in the Real Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida in Madrid, a church he had famously decorated with vibrant frescoes decades earlier. However, this re-interment came with a curious and now legendary detail: Goya's skull was famously missing. This astonishing discovery was immediately communicated by the Spanish consul to his superiors in Madrid, who, recognizing the immeasurable value of the artist's remains to his homeland, promptly wired back the now iconic and resolute instruction: "Send Goya, with or without head." This peculiar anecdote underscores not only Goya's enduring fame but also the profound cultural significance he held for Spain. Francisco Goya’s legacy is immense; he masterfully navigated the transition from the Rococo and Neoclassical styles to the Romantic era, while simultaneously laying foundational groundwork for Realism, Impressionism, and even Expressionism. His fearless exploration of the human condition, from the sublime to the grotesque, ensures his place as one of the most innovative and vital artists in the history of Western art.

Frequently Asked Questions About Francisco Goya

Who was Francisco Goya?
Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes was a highly influential Spanish Romantic painter and printmaker, widely regarded as the most important Spanish artist of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, known for his ability to capture the political and social turmoil of his era.
Why is Goya considered both an Old Master and a Modern Artist?
Goya is often called the "last of the Old Masters" due to his mastery of traditional techniques and his connection to the grand Spanish artistic lineage, particularly Velázquez. He is simultaneously considered the "first of the moderns" because his innovative approach to themes, his raw emotional expression, and his unflinching portrayal of reality, especially in his later works, broke away from conventional aesthetics and foreshadowed later artistic movements like Realism and Expressionism.
How did his illness affect his art?
In 1793, Goya suffered a severe and undiagnosed illness that left him profoundly deaf. This physical isolation, coupled with the emotional trauma, led to a dramatic shift in his art. His work became noticeably darker, more pessimistic, and deeply introspective, moving away from elegant courtly portraits to powerful, often disturbing, explorations of human suffering, folly, and the darker aspects of society.
What are some of Goya's most famous works?
Among Goya's most celebrated works are his daring nudes La maja desnuda and La maja vestida, the grand portrait Charles IV of Spain and His Family, the harrowing war paintings The Second of May 1808 and The Third of May 1808, and his impactful print series Los Caprichos (social satire) and The Disasters of War (anti-war protest). His deeply personal and enigmatic Black Paintings, murals created in his home, are also among his most renowned.
Why did Goya create the "Black Paintings"?
Goya created the "Black Paintings" (1819–1823) on the walls of his house, the Quinta del Sordo, during a period of profound personal and political disillusionment. Living in near isolation and suffering from his deafness, these 14 murals served as a private, almost confessional, artistic outpouring, reflecting his bleak outlook on humanity, the political unrest in Spain, and his own psychological state, free from the constraints of public commissions.
What was the significance of the "missing skull" when Goya's body was re-interred?
When Goya's remains were exhumed for re-interment in Madrid in 1919, his skull was famously discovered to be missing. This peculiar incident became a legendary anecdote, symbolizing Goya's almost mythical status and the fervent desire of Spain to reclaim and honor its most celebrated artist, regardless of the missing detail, as famously encapsulated by the telegram, "Send Goya, with or without head."