On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P02781
- Author
- Goya y Lucientes, Francisco de (Spanish)
- Title
- Blind Man's Buff
- Chronology
- 1788
- Technique
- Support
- Measures
- 41 cm x 44 cm
- School
- Theme
- Shown
- Yes
- Entrance
- LEGADO
- Procedence
- Legacy of Pedro Fernández Durán y Bernaldo de Ouirós. 1931
A circle of ten Majos and Majas
play blind man's buff on the banks
of what may be the Manzanares
River. This work is the only sketch
for the cartoon Goya painted for a
series of playful and gay
tapestries intended for the bedroom
of the Infantas —the daughters of
the future Carlos IV (1748-1819)
and María Luisa de Parma
(1751-1818)— at Madrid's El Pardo
Palace.
Originally titled “The ladle game”
because of the wooden spoon held by
the blindfolded youth , this game
was very common during that period
as both popular and noble
entertainment and was often used as
the subject of rococo
paintings.
Goya received the commission for
the cartoon in 1778, the same year
that Carlos III (1716-1788) died.
His death led the Royal Family to
move to other Royal Seats,
including the palaces of La Granja,
Aranjuez and El Escorial. As a
result, the series was never
finished.
The corresponding cartoon is also
in the Prado Museum collection
(P804).
In 1799, this work belonged to the
family of the Duke of Osuna. At the
auction of their belongings, it was
acquired by Pedro Fernández Durán,
who bequeathed it to the Prado
Museum in 1931.
Location on the map
