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To understand Francisco Goya’s Black Paintings, we need to understand how he went from a popular well-loved royal portrait artist to painting deeply disturbing imagery on the bare walls of his house in total isolation.
In Part Two, I look at his series of etchings, ‘The Disasters of War’ and his Black Paintings.
In 1819, Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes, commonly known as Goya, was a successful and celebrated artist. Then suddenly, he withdrew from public life, left Madrid and the Royal Court behind, and moved into a farmhouse in the countryside.
His wife and most of his friends were dead and he had become isolated. He was 73-years old, sick, and completely deaf. His long life was coming to a close… BUT he wasn’t finished yet. The man who had once painted crucifixions, miracles, saints, and priests, now painted terrifying, demonic, raw and brutal works – works without even a hint of God.

Content produced by: Great Art Explained

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video - 16:18
The Black Paintings by Goya (Part Two)
By: Great Art Explained