Inspirational Quotes by Francisco Goya (Spanish Artist)

Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (1746–1828) was a Spanish Romantic painter and printmaker, regarded as the last of the Old Masters and the first of the moderns. His art captured the turbulence of his time, reflecting historical and social upheaval, shaping 19th- and 20th-century art.

Born in Fuendetodos, Spain, Goya trained in Italy before returning in 1775 to work for the Royal Tapestry Works. His early paintings followed court traditions, influenced by Giovanni Tiepolo and Neapolitan styles. He soon introduced everyday Spanish life, shifting toward a personal, socially reflective approach. His skill in portraiture led to his appointment as court painter to Charles IV (1786) and chief painter (1799.) His royal portraits, such as The Family of Charles IV, were strikingly direct and often unflattering. His satirical etchings, notably Los Caprichos (1799,) critiqued societal hypocrisy, while The Disasters of War documented Napoleonic brutality.

His religious frescoes, particularly for San Antonio de la Florida in Madrid (1798,) showcased his expressive style. A severe illness in 1792 left him deaf, fueling his introspective, haunting vision. In his final years, he withdrew to Madrid’s outskirts, creating personal works. With Ferdinand VII’s accession (1824,) Goya chose exile in France, continuing his work until his death.

Biographies include Evan S. Connell’s Francisco Goya: A Life (2004,) a narrative of his struggles and artistic legacy, and Janis A. Tomlinson’s Goya: Order and Disorder (2014,) a scholarly analysis of his themes and transformations.

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Francisco Goya