Post by Ten on Mar 1, 2009 19:53:48 GMT -5
Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes was born on March 30, 1746 in Zaragoza, Spain. He began to paint after the late Baroque period, apprenticed to José Luzán at age 14. In 1773 he married Josefa Bayeu and was made court painter in 1789. Because of his unique style, he has been called the Father of Modern Art.
Goya painted this piece, entitled The Third of May, in 1814. He used oil paints on a canvas 104 ¾ x 136 inches in size. The painting shows soldiers of Napoleon in the process of executing Spanish patriots. Cadavers lie in blood splatter beside those who await a similar fate. Some men cry or hid their faces, some look fearful or angry, but the most prominent figure, dressed in white and yellow, holds his open hands above his head and is presented as the most courageous. The eye is drawn to these bright colors first, then sweeps across the illuminated victims and reaches the soldiers, who have their backs to the viewer. They are painted in dark colors, all wearing the same uniform and all taking the same pose. This symbolizes their vile inhumanity. The overall effect succeeds in creating a haunting quality, something akin to the terror and indignation reflected in the Spaniard's faces.
We have a cbox again and we're opening the place up as a closed, members only rp