Artist

Appointment As Court Painter: Francisco Goya

Francisco de Goya was born in Fuendetodos, Spain in 1746. He was the son of a gilder who had no formal training in art. But, he successfully became one of the most famous painters in all of history.

Goya was a student of painter Francisco Bayeu and became an assistant director at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando in Madrid.

He rose through the ranks quickly and began working as a court painter for Charles III from 1785 until 1789 when Charles IV came into power at five years old (his father had died).

Greatest Painter In Europe

Goya – Portrait Of Francisco Bayeu

Goya (1746-1828) was a Spanish painter who was well-known across the world. He was born in Zaragoza, Spain, and spent his early life as a court painter in Spain. Although he became well-known for his portraits, he also painted religious scenes, landscapes, and other subjects that reflected his period.

Some of Goya’s best works include “The Three Majas” (1797), “The Clothed Maja” (1800), “The Naked Maja” (1800), and “Frescoes” (1819). These paintings depict women dressed or undressed according to the social standards of their era; they are considered highly erotic today but were considered pornographic at their time of creation because they showed nudity rather than covered flesh like most paintings at that time did.

Francisco Goya’s art was regarded as one of the best around. Goya was regarded as the best painter in Europe at the time. He was regarded as ‘the painter’ of the time.

Appointment As Court Painter

In 1782, Goya was appointed the first court painter to King Charles III. The monarch had ascended to the throne and needed a new official portrait painted. Goya delivered his masterpiece: an oil painting of the royal family on horseback, which has become known as “The Family of Charles IV,” or simply “The Royal Family.” 

The painting features King Charles III, his wife, Queen Maria Luisa of Parma; their eldest son Ferdinand VII; and their second son Infante Antonio Pascual. In addition to this work, Goya also painted portraits of many nobles, including the Duchesses of Alba and Osuna (who were sisters).

Goya was well-known for being difficult to work with, but he didn’t have much choice in this matter—a British diplomat had accused him of spying for France during Spain’s war against Britain between 1779–1783. This accusation ruined his career as an artist in Spain because it led many people to think ill of him in court.

Goya’s Work

Goya’s work changed dramatically over the years; he became involved in politics, and his art characteristics began to express injustice and freedom. It became more satirical, expressive, and realistic.

The French Revolution shaped the political views of Goya. He was not a supporter of absolute monarchy or the Spanish system. He painted several portraits of King Charles IV (1799-1808), which were highly critical from a political point of view: the King appears old and tired in his last years on the throne; this picture illustrates both Goya’s loyalty toward his patrons but also reveals his desire for change within Spain.

Goya was also a prolific printmaker, working with etching and aquatint. Because of the nature of these methods, Goya used them to create images that were very dark in contrast and highly detailed. These styles allowed Goya to express the oppression experienced by those living during this time in Spain. In particular, there are three series that he created that show his feelings about what was going on around him: The Disasters of War (1789–1815), The Caprices (1797–1800), and Los Disparates (1799).

The Age Of Enlightenment

Artist Francisco de Goya was known for his realism. However, he lived during an exciting time in art history — the Age of Enlightenment. During this time, European art changed dramatically as artists began to focus more on science than religion and turned to paint realistic scenes instead of idealized ones.

Goya also had a unique life story: he was deaf by the end of his life (around 1819 or so), which influenced his style; he became a court painter for King Carlos IV of Spain; and toward the end of his career, he worked as an engraver, creating some beautiful prints that still influence today’s artists.

Goya’s Illness

Goya was afflicted with an illness, which he called “the illness of my life,” which left him deaf and isolated. The cause remains unknown; it has been attributed to lead poisoning, syphilis, and other factors. However, a significant source of distress at this time was his lack of social interaction due to his deafness. 

His wife’s death in 1812 had deprived him of the companionship that she provided; they had lived apart since 1797, and there were no children from their relationship whom he could have brought into his home to keep him company. He did not enjoy being isolated and attempted to make arrangements so that he could live with one or more friends who would be willing to look after him should anything happen to disable him entirely; however, these plans came to nothing due to financial reasons.

Goya’s stay in Bordeaux was a brief one, but he appears to have recovered much of his health. He returned to Madrid at the end of 1824, where he continued to work on paintings and prints until his death on April 16th, 1828.

Goya was 72 years old when he died, deaf as ever and still lacking companionship; the only family member who regularly visited him was his housekeeper Leocadia Weiss (who came from Germany). Despite this loneliness, Goya still managed to create some stunning works during these last years: “The Disasters of War” series was completed between 1810-1820 (and would never be published), while other works include “Los Caprichos” (1797), “Tauromaquia” (1799) and “La Tauromaquia” (1816).

The Bottom Line

Francisco Goya was an excellent painter whose works have significantly impacted many painters in generations after him. He was held in the utmost regard among the many painters of his age. You can read more about Francisco de Goya and get insights into the works of artist Francisco Goya.

James Morkel

Tech website author with a passion for all things technology. Expert in various tech domains, including software, gadgets, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies. Dedicated to simplifying complex topics and providing informative and engaging content to readers. Stay updated with the latest tech trends and industry news through their insightful articles.

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