On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P00804
- Author
- Goya y Lucientes, Francisco de (Spanish)
- Title
- Blind Man's Buff
- Chronology
- 1788-1789
- Technique
- Support
- Measures
- 269 cm x 350 cm
- School
- Theme
- Shown
- Yes
- Entrance
- INVENTARIO TAPICES
- Procedence
- Real Patrimonio, 1870
A group of youths play in the
countryside. The gay circle
consists mainly of persons dressed
as majos and majas, the popular
clothing that also became stylish
among the aristocracy. There are
also two figures wearing elegant
velvet dress coats and feathered
hats, in the French style.
Originally titled “The ladle game”
because of the wooden spoon the
blindfolded youth uses to find his
“victim,” it later received the
more modern denomination of that
same game: “Blind Man's Buff (La
gallina ciega). This game was
common in the eighteenth century
and was often used as the subject
of rococo paintings, which commonly
dealt with gallant themes.
Goya made various changes with
regard to the work's original idea.
For example, he eliminated a young
woman who appeared behind the lady
at the center of the background.
Nevertheless, one can still barely
make out her head and vivid eyes,
just as they are painted in the
preparatory sketch, which has also
survived (P2781).
This painting was a cartoon for one
of the tapestries in the Infanta's
bedroom at the El Pardo Palace.
Location on the map
