РефератыИностранный языкFrFrancisco Goya Essay Research Paper Withthe coronation

Francisco Goya Essay Research Paper Withthe coronation

Francisco Goya Essay, Research Paper


With


the coronation of the two Catholic rulers, Ferdinand and Isabella in 1479, the


country of Spain slowly began to unite. Piece by piece, the King and Queen


recaptured once lost lands and built their empire. In 1516 Carlos V rose to


power, establishing the Hapsburg reign. The Hapsburg ruled for nearly two


hundred years until the death of Charles II. With him died a Golden Age for


Spain that the Catholic rulers established. Spain fell into a time of mass


poverty, disorganization, and lackadaisical rule. One force that was structured


in Spain was the church. Catholicism was not only a religion in Spain but also a


significant influence in society. At the time, however, it did little to improve


the conditions. Classes were heavily lopsided. The middle class was almost


non-existent, and the upper class monopolized agricultural land. The provinces


of Aragon, La Mancha, and Castile were where most of the poverty and depression


was concentrated. Costal cities like Cadiz and Madrid were where prosperity


existed. In the midst of commencing political and aristocratic turmoil, was born


one of the most talented and patriotically concerned artists Spain has ever


seen. On March 30, 1745 in the rural town of Fuendetodos, Francisco Jose de Goya


y Lucientes was born. He was born poor and at the fall of the Hapsburg Monarchy.


Goya?s father was the son of a notary, or a small time lawyer, and his mother


Dona Gracia Lucientes, was a hidalgo. Hidalgos were the lowest order in Spanish


nobility. Goya Pg2 was still a boy when he and his family moved to the city of


Saragossa. Saragossa contained more life than the rural city of Fuendetodos.


Here he began school, where he barely learned to read and write. After attending


elementary school, Francisco went to a Jesuit school or ?college?. It was


here where the foundation of his career was laid. It was recommended that he


develop his natural skills in drawing. A local master painter, named Jose Luzan


y Martinez, took Goya under his wing. Martinez was a typical third rank painter


of that time, but was well respected in the city. Goya began learning to paint


the human figure by copying sculptures and molds. The drawing of naked models


was forbidden at that time. By this point Goya showed himself as a fine copyist,


and able to adapt quickly to other peoples? styles. Goya?s first commission


was the painting of the church doors at Fuendentodos. This project confirmed his


profession. When he saw the painting some 50 years later he exclaimed, ?


Don?t say I painted those!? At age 17 Goya went to test himself in a larger


and more demanding area, Madrid. Another individual who had a profound impact on


Goya?s life and art was Velazquez. Velazquez was a painter of Spain?s pride


and power ?a superb realist. Although Velazquez had an influence on Goya?s


artistic style, his art is distinctly different from that of his predecessor.


Velazquez?s paintings depicted absolute and precise figures. Most of Goya?s


work, other than portraits, was noticeably distorted. These were times of


confusion and despair, which would serve as artistic topics for Goya?s work.


The other half of his work is strictly his reaction and response to Pg3


surrounding occurrences. Perhaps nobody depicted mortal?s thoughts and actions


better than Goya. He combined his personal thoughts and the thoughts of the


character in the painting so they either contrasted or became one. Goya used


this devise of altering human characteristics as a way to undermine politicians


and ar

istocrats without confrontation. A prime example of this is in the


portrait of the family of Charles the IV. Charles IV was a Bourbon King who was


later deposed by Napoleon. This portrait is at the pivotal point of Goya?s


career. The public Goya and the private Goya, usually rigidly separated were


briefly allowed to merge. As Goya was at the center of the social scene by this


point, he was very aware of the history, people and events of his time. He


depicts the characters and family members as he sees them, weak, sheltered, and


cocky. The clothing and costumes on the people describe their rank in society,


however their faces portray a lack of power and character. As he did in life,


the King stands to one side and his face is that of an uncertain oaf. Queen


Maria Luisa stands in the middle of the painting with a double chin and her


expression is crude, almost vulgar. Her arms were something that she was proud


of in life. She was proud of their thickness and strength but Goya paints them


to look almost gross. The daughter is depicted as pleasant (Goya idolized


children?s innocence), and uncorrupted, although her dress is similar to her


mothers. This illustrates the brainwashing of youthful nobility, and their lack


of independence. Other relatives are positioned behind the King which is perhaps


in Pg4 mitation of Velazquez? invention in the masterpiece Las Meninas. These


depictions went unnoticed, and while Goya never painted for the King and Queen


again, it was not because they were dissatisfied. He got away with it and went


on to fulfill other artistic desires. What is extraordinary about this portrait


is that it borders a thin line between levels of understanding. Goya found a


median at which he could satisfy someone?s expectations while fulfilling his


own artistic thoughts. At first glance or even scrupulous examination, someone


who is ignorant of the techniques being used sees only a picture of a royal


portrait. Somewhat of a different style and theme is showed in The Shooting on


Principe Pio Mountain. A more free brush technique is used here and the faces


and figures in the picture are more abstract, less detailed. The shooters are


anonymous and they doggedly obey orders by killing the suspects lined up in


front of them. In the center of the painting is a Spanish commoner who has his


arms raised and his face is that of despair, horror, and hopelessness. This


event (one of many that were similar) was a significant moment in Spanish


history. French firing squads patrolled through Spain as guerrillas (little


wars) broke out over the land. Goya painted the picture six years later, and had


mixed feelings about it. His love for Spain is shown in all of his work, however


he was an admirer of the French Enlightenment. This painting shows a difference


and gradual change in Goya?s style. The brush strokes are much more scratchy


and not as delicate as Pg5 previous works. It was possibly painted with more


passion and thus the reason for the more symbolic tone and not realistic. Goya


could be considered one of the most talented artists of his time and without


question he is. However what is to be merited is influence and understanding of


Spain and her people. A true artist, or painter in this case, can put thoughts


onto canvas forcing the observer to look beyond the jewels and ranks of royalty.


They can tell a characters life story or thoughts with miniscule variations in


facial and body language. Goya did these things to perfection and should be


regarded as one of the great minds of Spanish culture.


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