Francisco Goya

author

Francisco Goya

1746–1828

A brilliant Spanish painter and printmaker, he moved from lively court scenes to some of the darkest, most unforgettable images in European art. His work captured both the splendor and the violence of his age, helping bridge the gap between the Old Masters and modern art.

1 Audiobook

Los Desastres de la guerra:

Los Desastres de la guerra:

by Francisco Goya

About the author

Born in Fuendetodos, Spain, on March 30, 1746, Francisco de Goya trained in Zaragoza and later built a successful career in Madrid. He first became widely known for designs for the royal tapestry factory, then rose through the Spanish court to become a leading portrait painter and eventually court painter to the crown.

Over time, his art grew sharper, stranger, and more searching. Alongside elegant portraits and famous paintings such as The Naked Maja and The Family of Charles IV, he created major print series including Los Caprichos and The Disasters of War, using them to confront superstition, cruelty, and the human cost of conflict.

Goya is often seen as both the last of the Old Masters and one of the first modern artists. His later work, including the haunting Black Paintings, showed an intensity and freedom that influenced generations of artists after him. He died in Bordeaux, France, on April 16, 1828.