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Which artists influenced Francisco Goya’s early work?
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Francisco Goya
Detail of Self-portrait, etching by Francisco Goya from the series Los caprichos, 1799.
Francisco Goya’s early work was shaped by his formal training and the prevailing artistic styles of the Spanish court. His foundational education began in Zaragoza under José Luzán y Martínez and continued in Madrid as a pupil of the court painter Francisco Bayeu.12
Key influences on his early development include:
- Giovanni Battista Tiepolo: Goya’s early religious paintings and frescoes were heavily influenced by the decorative Baroque-Rococo style of the Venetian master, who was active in Madrid during the 1760s.12
- Anton Raphael Mengs: A leading exponent of Neoclassicism, Mengs influenced Goya’s work on tapestry cartoons by emphasizing simplicity, which helped temper the decorative influence of Tiepolo.12
- Diego Velázquez: Goya’s study of the 17th-century master’s work in the royal collection was pivotal. Velázquez’s influence is evident in Goya’s transition toward realism, his approach to portraiture, and his technical execution, such as in his Christ on the Cross.12
Later in his career, Goya famously identified Rembrandt, Velázquez, and nature as his primary masters.12