Inspiring Artists: Francisco de Goya

Inspiring Artists tells us what it is that makes some famous artists so important and memorable, not only in terms of their artistic legacy, but also as to their impact on the wider world. It explores their life and times through significant pieces of their art, looking at the work in terms of its context, from conflict (Goya), to festivities (Bruegel) to personal struggle (Van Gogh). Each work is also considered in terms of its style, technique and artistic innovation.

As a royal painter and national treasure, Francisco de Goya (1746-1828) painted celebrated official portraits of the most important people in his Spain. Privately, he explored disturbing themes of fantasy, darkness and death in daring, modern works of art that made him a hero to a generation of artists including Edvard Munch, Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso.