Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How did Francisco Goya become First Court Painter to Charles IV?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Francisco Goya
Detail of Self-portrait, etching by Francisco Goya from the series Los caprichos, 1799.
Francisco Goya was appointed First Court Painter to Charles IV in 1799. His rise to this position was the culmination of a long and successful career at the Spanish court, which began decades earlier.123
Goya’s path to becoming the most fashionable artist in Spain included several key milestones:
- Early Court Work: He began his court career in 1775 by creating over 60 cartoons for the Royal Tapestry Factory of Santa Bárbara, initially working under the direction of Anton Raphael Mengs.3
- Academic and Royal Recognition: In 1780, he was elected to the Royal Academy of San Fernando, and by 1786, he was appointed painter to King Charles III.3
- Patronage under Charles IV: Upon the accession of Charles IV, Goya was immediately raised to the rank of court painter. He later served as director of the Academy in 1795 before achieving the title of First Court Painter in 1799.2
Despite his official status, Goya maintained a critical eye, famously capturing the personalities of his royal patrons with a naturalism that some critics interpreted as satire.12