Francisco de Goya, 1746-1828: On the Threshold of Modernity

Francisco de Goya, 1746-1828: On the Threshold of Modernity
Unflinching eye: Goya, the vivid witness to beauty, grandeur, and war

From court portraits for the Spanish royals to horrific scenes of conflict and suffering, Francisco JosÃ© de Goya y Lucientes (1746â€“1828) made a mark as one of Spainâ€™s most revered and controversial artists. A master of form and light, his influence reverberates down the centuries, inspiring and fascinating artists from the Romantic EugÃ¨ne Delacroix to Britart enfants terribles, the Chapman brothers.

Born in Fuendetodos, Spain, in 1746, Goya was apprenticed to the Spanish royal family in 1774, where he produced etchings and tapestry cartoons for grand palaces and royal residences across the country. He was also patronized by the aristocracy, painting commissioned portraits of the rich and powerful with his increasingly fluid and expressive style. Later, after a bout of illness, the artist moved towards darker etchings and drawings, introducing a nightmarish realm of witches, ghosts, and fantastical creatures.

It was, however, with his horrific depictions of conflict that Goya achieved enduring impact. Executed between 1810 and 1820, The Disasters of War was inspired by atrocities committed during the Spanish struggle for independence from the French and penetrated the very heart of human cruelty and sadism. The bleak tones, agitated brushstrokes, and aggressive use of Baroque-like light and dark contrasts recalled VelÃ¡zquez and Rembrandt, but Goyaâ€™s subject matter was unprecedented in its brutality and honesty.

In this introductory book from TASCHEN Basic Art 2.0 we set out to explore the full arc of Goyaâ€™s remarkable career, from elegant court painter to deathly seer of suffering and grotesquerie. Along the way, we encounter such famed portraits as Don Manuel Osorio Manrique de ZÃºÃ±iga, the dazzling Naked Maja, and The 3rd of May 1808 in Madrid, one of the most heart-stopping images of war in the history of art.

About the series:
Each book in TASCHENâ€™s Basic Art series features:
- a detailed chronological summary of the life and oeuvre of the artist, covering his or her cultural and historical importance
- a concise biography
- approximately 100 illustrations with explanatory captions
Country USA
Brand Taschen
Manufacturer Taschen America Llc
Binding Hardcover
ItemPartNumber YES23681831
Model YES23681831
UnitCount 1
EANs 9783836532686
ReleaseDate 0000-00-00

Country	USA
Brand	Taschen
Manufacturer	Taschen America Llc
Binding	Hardcover
ItemPartNumber	YES23681831
Model	YES23681831
UnitCount	1
EANs	9783836532686
ReleaseDate	0000-00-00

Francisco de Goya, 1746-1828: On the Threshold of Modernity

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