The liveliness of the main little soldier, the martial air and the amusing, childish pride with which he faces the viewer make this one of Goya's greatest achievements among all his representations of childhood.

Childhood was one of the subjects that most interested Goya and in many of his scenes the children represent different social types: soldiers, majos, little aristocrats and others.

This is one of a series of tapestries cartoons (P00779-P00784) intended for the bedroom of the Prince and Princess of Asturias (the future Carlos IV and his wife Maria Luisa de Parma) at the El Pardo Palace.

Access to the series of tapestry cartoons: The Fair in Madrid (P00779); The Pottery Vendor (P00780); The Soldier and the Lady (P00781); The Hawthorn Seller (P00782); Boys playing at Soldiers (P00783); A Stickball Game (P00784).