The Spanish painter, Francisco de Goya (1746 – 1828), is considered by art scholars as one of the most revered Spanish artists of the late 1700s and early 1800s. He was a romantic painter and printmaker. Francisco Goya’s art includes paintings, drawings, and engravings, and he had a significant influence on the style of 19th- and 20th-century painters. Most art lovers and scholars describe Goya as the last of the Old Masters and the first of the moderns.
Some of his artworks were sold during the 20th- and 21st-century for millions of dollars. Although, however, he was the first significant artist who used the aquatint technique, his paintings sold later for millions of dollars, including non-aquatint works. In this article, we’ll briefly look at the artist Francisco Goya and then list his most expensive works.
More About Francisco de Goya
In 1746 artist Francisco de Goya was born to a middle-class family in Aragon. He studied painting from the age of 14. Later he went to Madrid to further his art studies. In 1773 he got married. Unfortunately, only one of his sons survived into adulthood.
In 1786, Goya became a court painter for the Spanish Crown. During this early part of his career as an artist, he created many portraits of the Spanish aristocracy and royalty and Rococo-style tapestry cartoons for the royal palace.
In 1793, after a severe illness, he became deaf. This illness and deafness influenced his work. He became progressively “darker” and more pessimistic. Finally, he became withdrawn and introspective, and the tone of his work changed. He began the series of aquatinted etchings during that period, published in 1799 as the Caprichos.
At that time, he was also assigned as the Director of the Royal Academy, and in 1799 he became “Primer Pintor de Cámara” (Prime Court Painter) – the highest rank for a Spanish court painter. After that, he withdrew from public life, and from the late 1810s, he lived in near-solitude outside Madrid in a farmhouse cum studio.
Suerte de Varas (Bullfight)
The most significant amount paid up to date for Francisco Goya’s art is $7.4 million for his “Suerte de Varas” (“Bullfight”). It is an oil on canvas painting made in 1824. This was four years before his death.
In this painting, death is part of the theme. In the middle of the arena, the preparation is made for killing the bull while spectators are shouting. Goya is known for his engagement with the bullfight theme in other artworks.
The oil painting had been held in a collection of Spanish owners until it was auctioned at Sotheby’s. On December 9, 1992, it was sold for $7.4 million. The J. Paul Getty Museum took it to Los Angeles, which has been on display ever since.
A Still Life of Dead Hares
“A Still Life with Dead Hares” belonged to the Goya family until the middle of the 19th century. It then passed to the family of Francisco Javier de Mariátegui and was taken out of Spain in May 1877 to be sold in Paris. No traces of any transactions can be found between 1877 and 2003. However, it surfaced again on January 24, 2003, when Christie’s collected it and sold it at auction for $5.06 million.
“A Still Life with Dead Hares” is an oil on canvas image illustrating one of Francisco Goya’s art characteristics. It has death as part of the theme. This painting draws the viewer’s eye to the two dead hares, according to art scholars. Their bodies form a cross that stands out against the neutral background.
This painting forms part of Goya’s series of still lifes. It demonstrates his extraordinary talent for the genre. A limited range of colors has been used, but both animals’ furs still have a unique texture.
Bajan riñendo (“They Go Down Quarreling”)
The artist Francisco Goya’s work “Bajan riñendo” (“They go down Quarreling”), drawing number 2, depicts two women in the middle of a fight and who are falling. It is part of the drawings that make up Goya’s eight albums.
These drawings were not preparation for paintings or engravings. Francisco de Goya painted them with a brush directly on the canvases without making any sketches beforehand. “Bajan riñendo” is a sketch that appeared on the first page of Album D. It was sold for a whopping $4.5 million in July 2008.
Equestrian Portrait of Don Manuel Godoy, Duke of Alcudia
One of the other works of artist Francisco Goya that sold for millions is “Equestrian Portrait of Don Manuel Godoy, Duke of Alcudia.” It was painted in 1794. This portrait was sold at Sotheby’s in July 2009 for $4.3 million.
The Duke of Alcudia and Maria Luisa de Bourbon Parme, the queen of Spain, were lovers. He was a compelling political and military personnel during the reign of Carlos IV. Although Carlos IV was the official head of state, Don Manuel Godoy held the country’s reigns between 1792 and 1808.
Useful Work
Francisco Goya’s “Hutiles trabajos” (“Useful work”) is an ink drawing from album E, number 37. It is a freehand drawing with harsh lines. Goya created it in ink on paper. The drawing remained in Goya’s family until he died in 1854. The painter’s grandson, Mariano, took the separate drawings out of the albums and sold them as single drawings.
This drawing then went into the possession of the painter Federico de Madrazo. Jean Friborg purchased the work in Paris in 1930. “Useful Work” then passed to his descendants and remained in their family until it was sold at Christie’s for $3.6 million in 2011.
Conclusion
Francisco de Goya is well-known for his pioneering work with the development of new styles and techniques, which significantly influenced the types used by later artists in the 19th- and 20th-century. As many of his artworks are unique because of his pioneering work and the new techniques he used, it is no surprise that some of his works fetched very high prices during 20th- and 21st-century auctions. Up to date, his most expensive artwork, “Suerte de Varas” (“Bullfight”), was sold for $7.4 million in 1992.
