Whether for his portraits as a court painter to the royal family of Castile or for his horrific scenes of conflict and suffering, Francisco de Goyo has made history as one of Spain's most revered and controversial artists. Focusing on his key works, this introduction examines his mastery of light and form, his astonishing variety of subject matter, and the illustrious lineage of artists he influenced.

The tormented gaze

Goya, the witness of beauty, grandeur and war

Whether for his portraits as court painter to the royal family of Castile or for his terrible scenes of conflict and suffering, Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (1746-1828) has made history as one of Spain's most revered and controversial artists. A master of light and form, his influence reverberates down the centuries, inspiring and fascinating artists of all kinds, from the romantic Eugène Delacroix to the enfants terribles of British art, the Chapman brothers.

Born in Fuendetodos (Spain) in 1746, Goya began his career at the court of Castile in 1774, producing etchings and painting cartoons for tapestries to decorate the great palaces and royal residences of the country. He also had clients among the aristocracy, painting portraits commissioned by the rich and powerful in an increasingly fluid and expressive style. Later, after overcoming a serious illness, he began to produce darker engravings and drawings, depicting a nightmarish world populated by witches, ghosts and fantastic creatures.

It was, however, with his horrific depictions of conflict that Goya achieved an enduring impact. The Disasters of War, produced between 1810 and 1820, were inspired by the atrocities committed during the War of Independence fought by the Castilians against the French.The sombre tones, rapid brushstrokes and aggressive use of chiaroscuro in the Baroque style bring to mind the work of Velázquez and Rembrandt, but the subjects Goya tackles are unprecedented in their brutality and honesty.

In this introductory TASCHEN Basic Art 2.0 book we trace the full arc of Goya's extraordinary career, from his days as an elegant court painter to his transformation into a tormented spectator of suffering and the grotesque. Along the way, we encounter such famous portraits as Manuel Osorio Manrique de Zúñiga, the dazzling Naked Maja, and The Third of May in Madrid, one of the most overwhelming images of war in the history of art.

About the authors

Rose-Marie Hagen, Swiss by birth, studied history and Romance languages in Lausanne. After several years of further studies in Paris and Florence, she taught at numerous institutions, including the American University in Washington.

D.C. Rainer Hagen, born in Hamburg, studied literature and drama in Munich. He later worked in radio and television, where he has held the position of editor-in-chief of a German television station. Both authors have published several books for TASCHEN, including a book on the life of Francisco de Goya and The Secrets of Works of Art.

• Pages: 96
• Language: English
• Author: Rose-Marie Hagen, Rainer Hagen
• Year: 2016
• MODEL: 9783836532686

Publisher: Taschen