On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P00778
- Author
- Goya y Lucientes, Francisco de (Spanish)
- Title
- The Blind Guitarrist
- Chronology
- 1778
- Technique
- Support
- Measures
- 260 cm x 311 cm
- School
- Theme
- Shown
- Yes
- Entrance
- INVENTARIO TAPICES
- Procedence
- Real Patrimonio, 1870
The central motif of this work is
the blind singer who travels to
cities and towns, spreading the
news, generally of a tragic or
lurid character. Goya depicts the
emotions — from interest to
fascination— his message generates
among the men, women and children
looking on.
According to Goya, the elegant
gentleman in this cartoon was a
foreigner. The painter also
included unusual characters, such
as the black man who plays to
popular role of water-seller. There
are also more customary ones, such
as the fisherman on the left, and a
melon-seller who hawks his wares
among the crowd.
This scene, with its strict,
pyramidal composition, was the
subject of one of Goya's first
etchings, a large one that varies
in some respects from this cartoon.
The present was the first of the
cartoons for the tapestries
intended for the entrance to the
Prince and Princess of Asturias'
bedroom at El Pardo.
Location on the map
