Francisco de Goya (Spanish, 1746–1828) was a Neoclassic Painter, highly regarded as one of the Old Masters of art in Europe. Goya was born in Fuendetodos, Northern Spain, but later moved to Saragossa, where his father worked as a gilder. His keen interest in the decorative Rococo Style that was prominent at the time led to his apprenticeship with Jose Luzan Martinez, a local painter who had studied the art in Naples, Italy, under renowned artist
Giuseppe Mastroleo (Italian, 1676–1744). The precocious Goya found inspiration in the works of then masters such as
Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Velasquez (Spanish, 1599–1660), and
Rembrandt Van Rijn (Dutch, 1606–1669).
Eager to learn more, Goya moved to Rome, Italy, for a short period of time around 1771, returning back home about a year later. At this time, he began to work under brothers
Francisco Bayeu y Subias (Spanish, 1734–1795) and
Ramon Bayeu y Subias (Spanish, 1746–1793) in their Madrid studio. Goya later married their sister. The artist’s membership with the Royal Academy of Fine Arts helped him secure work as a designer with the Royal Tapestry Factory.
Goya''''s obvious talent soon became apparent to the royal aristocracy of his time, and he was made Court Painter in 1786. This was the peak of his career, and some of the renowned works he produced during this period include
Duke and Duchess of Osuna,
Portraits of King Charles IV, and the
Count of Floridablanca. The Spanish nobility became fond of the painter and commissioned him to prepare hundreds of portraits, including the
Dutchess of Alba , the
9th Duke of Osuna, the
15th Duke of Medina Sidonia, and the
Marchioness of Pontejos. However, the artist suddenly developed an illness between 1792 and 1793, which rendered him deaf, and he withdrew from people, becoming somewhat introspective. In the midst of creating his official commissions and religious paintings, the deaf artist undertook a series of experimental dark paintings, which were published in 1799 under the title
Caprichos. Goya''''s painting career took a nosedive after the French invasion of Spain and ensuing restoration of the new Spanish King Ferdinand VII, who was not particularly fond of the painter. His works after the French left Spain included the
Disasters of War,
The Charge of the Mamelukes,
Santa Justa and Santa Rufina, and the
Black Paintings. After this period, Goya developed mistrust for the Spanish royalty, and moved to Bordeaux, France, where he died of a stroke in 1828, leaving behind a collection of paintings that remain evocative and poignant up to this day.