There are several world-famous artists whose
history is that of Madrid. It is not possible to talk about Madrid in the
Austrians time without mentioning Velázquez at the same time.
In a similar fashion it is impossible to
understand the years of Charles III and Charles IV in Madrid or those of the
Independence War or the dawning Romanticism without Francis of Goya, a leading
figure and an exceptional witness of the events in the life of Madrid, of the
change-over from one period to the next, from the banks of the Manzanares river
to the palaces of the crown and the nobility, or the enlightened circles of 18th
century Madrid.
Suggested
itinerary:
The idea of this itinerary is different from
the ones earlier described. This one is not designed to get to know the city
through the genius of this Aragonese painter, but to get to know his work and
the places where they can be found. Thus, Madrid remains discreetly in the
background.
The Prado Museum -
the Goya galleries of the Prado Museum would be enough by themselves to get to
know the work of this artist. There are examples from all the times and periods
of the painter, ranging from the sketches for tapestries to the "black
paintings", even his last and excellent work ("The Dairywoman from
Bourdeaux"), that makes it an obligatory visit.
If you wish to have a more complete information about
this place, please go here
The Royal Palace -
a good collection of portraits of Goya as regards the Crown. At the same time,
there are paintings of the artists before and contemporary of the Aragonese
painter. In general, there is an excellent collection of the paintings of the
period, in which Francisco of Goya begins to learn (Tiépolo, Mengs,
Francis Bayeu).
If you wish to have
a more complete information about this place, please go here
The San Fernando
Royal Academy of Noble Arts - is located on 13, Alcalá Street.
There are portraits of Godoy, Ferdinand VII, Leandro Fernández of Moratín,
Juan of Villanueva, "The tyrant", etc.
If you wish to have a more complete information about
this place, please go here
The Lázaro
Galdiano Museum - is located on 122, Serrano Street, on the corner of María
de Molina Street. Portraits of the royal family (Charles IV, Mary Louise), apart
from some paintings with a religious theme.
If you wish to have a more complete information about
this place, please go here
The Municipal Museum
- is located on 78, Fuencarral Street. Paintings by Goya ("Allegory
of the Villa of Madrid") and his disciples (Eugenio Lucas, etc.)
If you wish to have a more complete information about
this place, please go here
The Cerralbo Museum - is located
on 17, Ventura Rodríguez Street. Drawings by Goya and paintings by his
disciples.
If you wish to have a
more complete information about this place, please go here
Saint Anthony of the Florida's
Hermitage - is located on Florida Walk. It was built in 1797 and
decorated by Francisco de Goya in the following year (1798). These are the
painter's most important religious work and the best example of his frescoes.
If you wish to have a more complete information
about this place, please go here
The St Francis the
Grandee's Basilica - stands on St Francis Square. In this famous church,
built in 1761 by Francis Cabezas and finished by Sabatini about 1770, there is a
painting which was especially ordered for this church by the Count of
Floridablanca: "The Sermon of St Bernardino of Sienna".
If you wish to have a more complete information
about this place, please go here
The Saint Antón
Church - is located on 63, Hortaleza Street. In the church of this
institution, built by Peter of Ribera in 1740 originally, there is one of
Francis of Goya's paintings of great maturity: "The last communion of St
Joseph of Calasanz".
If you
wish to have a more complete information about this place, please go here
The Romantic Museum -
is located on 13, St Matthew Street. There is another excellent example of
religious art in this museum which is especially dedicated to the reign of
Ferdinand VII and Isabel II. The famous painting "St Gregory Magno" is
found in this chapel. At the same time, the visit provides an opportunity to get
to know the work of Goya's disciples (Vincent López, Eugene Lucas) and of
the artists who came after him.
If
you wish to have a more complete information about this place, please go here
The Royal Tapestry
Factory - is located on 2, Fuenterrabía Street. Goya worked for
the original institution (The Royal Tapestry Factory of St Barbara on the square
of the same name; the factory was moved to where it is today in the second half
of the last century) from 1775 until 1792; in this time he painted the famous
series of sketches for tapestries that can be seen in the Prado Museum.
If you wish to have a more complete information
about this place, please go here
The Pardo Palace -
was built by Charles I in the 16th century and enlarged during the reign of
Charles III. It was decorated in the time of his successor, Charles IV, with
tapestries from the Royal Factory, which were made after the models (the "Cartones"
or sketches) painted for this purpose by Goya.
If you wish to have a more complete information
about this place, please go here
The Big House of the
Good Retiro - next to the Prado Museum. The rooms hold a collection of
19th century paintings, beginning with the Francis of Goya's disciples. - the
important inheritance the painter left to the Spanish plastic arts: Vincent López,
Eugene Lucas, Leonardo Atienza -
If
you wish to have a more complete information
about this place, please go
here
Other places with paintings by Goya, where visits are
restricted or very difficult to obtain:
- The Liria Palace
- Bank
of Spain
- Royal Academy of History
Copyright © 1999 by JLL
& JRP
All rights reserved.
