Inspired by Francisco de Goya

Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes, better known by the abbreviated name Francisco de Goya. Born in Aragón in 1746, Goya was a mid 18th century Spanish artist who left his mark with paintings, most notably with his series "The Disasters of War" which chronicled the horrors of the Napoleonic invasion. Goya's legacy exists mainly as the royal portraitist to the Spanish royal family of Charles IV. 

Goya began his career in Zaragoza as a student of a local artist, Jose Luzan y Martinez, and then went to Madrid to learn from Francisco Bayeu. During this period Francisco Bayeu was a member of the Spanish Royal Academy of Fine Art. Bayeu's endorsement helped Goya enter into the Royal Tapestry Workshop. Many of his designs there were made into elaborate tapestries that went on to hang on the walls of royal palaces, such as El Escorial. Goya's career took off in 1775 when he undertook a series of over 60 preparatory paintings based on aristocratic life. By 1808, Goya was at the height of his career. When Napoleon invaded Spain, he continued to work as a court painter. 

In the 20th century, his works continued to impress. The French artist Eugene Delacroix, who led the new European movements from Romanticism and Realism to Impressionism, has cited Goya as an inspiration. Goya's brightly coloured tapestries also influenced the French Impressionist painters such as Monet and Renoir. The extent to which Goya has influenced 19th, 20th and 21st century art movements in Europe cannot be fathomed. Discover the contemporary works of artists such as Warrington Colescott, Bekelech Tamayo, and Clément Bataille inspired by Goya on Artsper!