Francisco Goya

2 Pages 383 Words

Francisco de Goya
1746-1828

Francisco Jose de Goya was born in Fuendetodos, Spain, on March 30th, 1746. His family later relocated to Saragossa, where Goya came to be under the tutelage of local artist Jose Luzan. A few years later, after a sojourn in Italy to study, Goya returned to Saragossa where he received his first commission, painting frescoes in the Cathedral of El Pilar. Goya got the commission through Francisco Bayeu, a fellow artist also from Aragón, who they say was influential in helping Goya develop his earlier style. Bayeu was also the brother of Josefa Bayeu, whom Goya married in 1773. It was also around that time that Goya became involved in the creation of several other frescoes, influenced by the paintings of Velásquez and Rembrandt. It is interesting to note that like Rembrandt, Goya and his wife had several children who did not reach adulthood. Only one of his sons survived.
In addition to his several frescoes, Goya created designs for a tapestry factory in Madrid, painting scenes of everyday life in Spain. His worked were very sought after, and in 1780 he was elected to the Royal Academy of San Fernando. Shortly thereafter, he was named painter to King Charles IV, who was perhaps the most educated of the Spanish Monarchs of the era, and ultimately appointed Goya to the post of court painter. Goya painted portraits of the social elite, but he also continued making more tapestries. This was the height of Goya's artistic career, and he was at this point, considered the most successful, sought after and admired of all Spanish artists.
Alas, tragedy struck, and Goya was stricken with a mysterious illness that left him completely deaf. Later, after the death of his friend and brother-in-law Francisco Bayeu, he took over his duties as Director of Painting in the Royal Academy from 1795 to 1797, when he resigned due to ill health. Two years later, in 1799, he was given the title of First Spanish court painter....