Francisco de Francisco de GoyaGoya

Narrative paintingNarrative painting

GoyaGoya

Date - 1746-1828Date - 1746-1828 From – Madrid, SpainFrom – Madrid, Spain Style – Romantic Style – Romantic

Definition of Romanticism:Definition of Romanticism:These artists strove to break free from artistic rules. They were These artists strove to break free from artistic rules. They were

independent of the social order and chose their own subjects. independent of the social order and chose their own subjects. Some romantics were interested in the beauty of Nature Some romantics were interested in the beauty of Nature exhibiting its power and vastness. Others showed interest in the exhibiting its power and vastness. Others showed interest in the simple dignified peasant, shown to be the victim of power and simple dignified peasant, shown to be the victim of power and corruption. Above all, they set out to capture the moment of corruption. Above all, they set out to capture the moment of Drama and action.Drama and action.

Contribution to ArtContribution to Art

He painted with originality and He painted with originality and freedom in line and texture. He freedom in line and texture. He sought after the truth in all his sought after the truth in all his works, in portraits he captured the works, in portraits he captured the true unflattering character of the true unflattering character of the sitter, in political work – the horrors sitter, in political work – the horrors of war, and in his murals – the inner of war, and in his murals – the inner turmoil he suffered. turmoil he suffered.

Influence for the Influence for the paintingpainting

Goya was influenced by the political Goya was influenced by the political climate of Spain and France, which climate of Spain and France, which included the French occupation of Spain included the French occupation of Spain and its subsequent war.and its subsequent war.

Napoleon I of FranceNapoleon I of France crowned himself Emperor in 1804 crowned himself Emperor in 1804. . Spain controlled Spain controlled access to the Mediterranean, and so the country was politically and access to the Mediterranean, and so the country was politically and strategically important to French interests.strategically important to French interests. Charles IV was Charles IV was the reigning the reigning Spanish ruler, Napoleon took advantage of the weak king by suggesting Spanish ruler, Napoleon took advantage of the weak king by suggesting the two nations conquer and divide Portugal, with France and Spain each the two nations conquer and divide Portugal, with France and Spain each taking a third of the spoils, and the final third going to the Spanish Prime taking a third of the spoils, and the final third going to the Spanish Prime Minister Minister Manuel de GodoyManuel de Godoy, however Godoy was tricked, and accepted the , however Godoy was tricked, and accepted the French offer. He failed to notice Napoleon's true intentions, and was French offer. He failed to notice Napoleon's true intentions, and was unaware that his new ally and co-sovereign, the former king's son unaware that his new ally and co-sovereign, the former king's son Ferdinand VII of SpainFerdinand VII of Spain, was using the invasion merely as a ploy to seize , was using the invasion merely as a ploy to seize the Spanish parliament and throne. Ferdinand intended not only that the Spanish parliament and throne. Ferdinand intended not only that Godoy be killed during the impending power struggle, but also that the Godoy be killed during the impending power struggle, but also that the lives of his own parents be sacrificedlives of his own parents be sacrificed..

HistoryHistory Under the guise of reinforcing the Spanish armies, 23,000 Under the guise of reinforcing the Spanish armies, 23,000

French troops entered Spain unopposed in November 1807French troops entered Spain unopposed in November 1807 Even when France's intentions became clear the following Even when France's intentions became clear the following

February, the occupying forces found little resistance apart February, the occupying forces found little resistance apart from isolated actions in disconnected areas.from isolated actions in disconnected areas.

Although the Spanish people had accepted foreign monarchs Although the Spanish people had accepted foreign monarchs in the past, they were deeply resentful of the new French in the past, they were deeply resentful of the new French rule.rule.

On 2 May 1808, provoked by news of the planned removal to On 2 May 1808, provoked by news of the planned removal to France of the last members of the Spanish royal family, the France of the last members of the Spanish royal family, the people of Madrid rebelled in the people of Madrid rebelled in the Dos de Mayo UprisingDos de Mayo Uprising. .

A proclamation issued that day to his troops by Marshall A proclamation issued that day to his troops by Marshall Murat read: "The population of Madrid, led astray, has given Murat read: "The population of Madrid, led astray, has given itself to revolt and murder. French blood has flowed. It itself to revolt and murder. French blood has flowed. It demands vengeance. All those arrested in the uprising, arms demands vengeance. All those arrested in the uprising, arms in hand, will be shotin hand, will be shot

The 3The 3rdrd of May 1808 of May 1808 This painting was painted in 1814.This painting was painted in 1814. It is a typical Romantic work where Goya It is a typical Romantic work where Goya

captures the dramatic moment.captures the dramatic moment. Though the painting depicts a particular Though the painting depicts a particular

event, it goes beyond the death of individuals event, it goes beyond the death of individuals to make a powerful anti-war statement.to make a powerful anti-war statement.

The strong line of light coming from the The strong line of light coming from the oversized lantern at the axis of the painting oversized lantern at the axis of the painting divides the soldiers from the citizens, divides the soldiers from the citizens, highlighting their faces, drawing our highlighting their faces, drawing our attention to them. attention to them.

The 3The 3rdrd of May 1808 of May 1808 On the right of the painting, the regular line of On the right of the painting, the regular line of

the soldiers symbolise their dehumanised the soldiers symbolise their dehumanised mechanical form and action. The victims are an mechanical form and action. The victims are an irregular group facing the light, their human irregular group facing the light, their human features and feelings create a stark contrast with features and feelings create a stark contrast with their executioners.their executioners.

Colour is used Symbolically and sparingly in the Colour is used Symbolically and sparingly in the work. The soldiers are in darkness, the victims work. The soldiers are in darkness, the victims are in the light symbolising evil and good. The are in the light symbolising evil and good. The only definite colours are the white shirt and only definite colours are the white shirt and yellow pants of the central victim and the red yellow pants of the central victim and the red blood of the dead. blood of the dead.

The 3The 3rdrd of May 1808 of May 1808 In the background we see the city, none In the background we see the city, none

of the buildings can be identified, their of the buildings can be identified, their ghostly silhouette against the starless ghostly silhouette against the starless sky adds to the nightmarish atmosphere sky adds to the nightmarish atmosphere of the proceedings.of the proceedings.

The spectators eye is immediately drawn The spectators eye is immediately drawn to the man in white, whose arms are to the man in white, whose arms are raised in protest. His pose carries raised in protest. His pose carries deliberate echoes of the crucifixion a deliberate echoes of the crucifixion a fitting association for an innocent symbol fitting association for an innocent symbol of persecution and martyrdom.of persecution and martyrdom.

The 3The 3rdrd of May of May Goya took pains to depict the Goya took pains to depict the

condemned men as individuals, each condemned men as individuals, each with differing reactions to their fate. A with differing reactions to their fate. A monk lowers his head and clasps his monk lowers his head and clasps his hands in prayer while his neighbour hands in prayer while his neighbour stares his killers in the face, defiant to stares his killers in the face, defiant to the last.the last.

In contrast to their victims the soldiers In contrast to their victims the soldiers expressions are hidden from the viewer, expressions are hidden from the viewer, underlining their role as the faceless underlining their role as the faceless perpetrators of violence and oppression. perpetrators of violence and oppression.