On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P00774
- Author
- Goya y Lucientes, Francisco de (Spanish)
- Title
- The Kite
- Chronology
- 1777 - 1778
- Technique
- Óleo
- Support
- Lienzo
- Measures
- 269 cm x 285 cm
- School
- Española
- Theme
- Género y sociedad
- On display
- Yes
- Procedence
- Entregado a la Real Fábrica de Tapices de Santa Bárbara, Madrid, el 25 de enero de 1778. Trasferido entre 1856-1857 al Palacio Real de Madrid (sótanos del oficio de tapicería). Ingresó en el Museo del Prado por reales órdenes de 18.1 y 9.2. de 1870.
In Goya's own words, the scene depicts some young people who have “gone out to the country to fly a kite.” The couples that appear behind the main group show that this subject is a pretext allowing the painter to represent the flirting and gallantry inherent in Majo society. This was a customary argument in other series by Goya, such as the etchings from his Caprichos.
This is one of the cartoons for tapestries on everyday subjects intended to hang in the dining room of the Prince and Princess of Asturias (the future Carlos IV and his wife Maria Luisa de Parma) at El Escorial.
Access to the series of ten tapestry cartoons destined for the dining room of the Prince and Princess of Asturias at the palace of El Pardo: Picnic on the Banks of the Manzanares (P00768); Dance on the Banks of the Manzanares (P00769); The Quarrel in the New Tavern (P00770); The Maja and the Cloaked Men or A Walk through Andalusia (P00771); The Drinker (P00772); The Parasol (P00773); The Kite (P00774); Card Players (P00775); Boys Inflating a Bladder (P00776); Boys Picking Fruit (P00777).
















