Goya masterfully captures a simple moment of everyday life in Madrid, one of the most beautiful and elaborate scenes he ever made. In a stall selling dishes from Valencia, the salesman shows his wares to a couple of ladies accompanied by an elderly woman. Behind them, two gentlemen have their backs turned, watching the departure of a carriage whose lady passenger looks back at the viewer.

The tranquil depiction of the dishes contrasts with the movement of the carriage, which will very soon disappear from the scene. Goya takes advantage of the dynamism of this diagonal composition marked by the position of the figures, from the salesman to the carriage driver.

This is one of a series of tapestry 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).