# Francisco Goya

A court painter who revealed what power looked like—and what it cost.

He moved from royal portraits to raw, haunting scenes that still feel modern.

### About the artist

#### One-liner

Spanish painter who captured power—and the cost of it.

#### Short bio

Born in Fuendetodos, Goya became a court painter, then turned his gaze to war and human cruelty.

#### Quick facts

- Full name: Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes
- Born: March 30, 1746, Fuendetodos, Spain
- Died: April 16, 1828, Bordeaux, France
- Nationality: Spanish
- Known for: Paintings, drawings, and etchings

#### How to see

- Notice the contrast between light and darkness—it’s moral as much as visual.
- Look at the faces; he makes emotion the main subject.
- Pay attention to what’s left unfinished or rough.

#### Context and influence

His work reflects the upheavals of his time, especially war and political violence.

#### Major works

- The Third of May 1808 (1814)
- The Disasters of War (1810–14, prints)
- The Naked Maja (c. 1800–05)

## Key moments

### The person

Goya worked inside the Spanish court but kept a sharp, independent eye.

### The moment

The Third of May 1808 shows grief and violence with a directness that shocked his era.

### The impact

His late works opened the door to modern realism and emotional honesty in art.

## Artwork highlights

### The Third of May 1808

### Saturn Devouring His Son

## Try this

Try this: notice how the faces show fear, defiance, or silence.