Francisco Goya

Goya, Francisco (1746–1828), Spanish painter and graphic artist. Master of satire, his keen sense of observation and ability to depict reality graphically and with almost savage detail served him from his early works, designing cartoons for tapestries (1775–79), to his later appointment (1799) as court painter to Charles III and Charles IV. However, illness, which left him deaf in 1793, marked a turning point in his work. A world that had previously been depicted with brilliant colors, suggesting charm and delight, became grim and grotesque. His disillusionment became apparent in works from this period, including the paintings Maja Nude and Maja Clothed; the frescoes for Madrid's Church of San Antonio de la Florida, and the etchings Disasters of War, suggested by Napoleon's invasions of Spain. Near the end of his life, Goya surrounded himself with his “Black Paintings,” including Witches' Sabbath and Satan Devouring His Children. Goya's work was a major influence on Edouard Manet and the French impressionists.