Francisco Goya

Francisco Goya y Lucientes (1746-1828) is one of the undisputed masters of 19th century Spanish painting. He is also often called > because of his bold technique and his belief that the personal vision of the artist is more important than tradition. As a young man in 1775, he worked in the Royal Tapestry Factory of Sainte-Barbe in Madrid, where he studied the masterpieces of Velasquez, who influenced him greatly. After becoming court painter to King Charles III in 1786, he did that series of portraits, religious and genre paintings which brought him fame and prosperity. In 1799, overcome by a profound pessimism, he isolated himself and changed his whole approach to painting. His new style was bold and close to caricature. During the Napoleonic invasion he expressed his horror of conflict in realistic etchings on the atrocities of war. This book presents a comprehensive overview of Goya's painting, engraving and cartoons for tapestries with illustrations and text covering the main incidents of his life.