Goya: Biography

FRANCISCO DE GOYA Y LUCIENTES:

Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (1746-1828) was a Spanish painter during the Enlightenment. He is often recognized as “the forerunner to both the romantic and realist movement.” Goya had a long artistic career that included creating tapestries, painting in the Spanish royal courts, drawing political cartoons, and painting his famous and disturbing “Black Paintings”. During these periods of his career, his artwork changed from following the baroque and truthful style of those before him, such as Velazquez, to later taking on his own dark and depressing style after he suddenly fell ill and became more isolated from the world.