Charles V lancing a bull in the bullring of Valladolid

See How the ancient Spaniards hunted bulls on horseback in the countryside

The print is part of the subgroup, composed of four prints, dedicated to the origin and chivalrous nature of bullfighting on horseback (nos. 9-11 and 13). Perhaps it corresponds to a historical event referred to both by Nicolás Fernández de Moratín ('Historical Letter...') and by Pepe Hillo ('Bullfighting...') and José Vargas Ponce ('Dissertation...'), which took place in July 1527 during the festivities organised in Valladolid to celebrate the birth of the heir of the Emperor Charles V (Charles I of Spain), the future King Philip II.

This is a very dynamic composition for which Goya made three preparatory drawings with variations in pose and lighting, although the print is very simple, with the two protagonists standing out against a neutral background, without spatial references and worked only with tonal gradations of aquatint: the rider on his mount and the bull, facing in opposite directions. The bull, with his back to the spectator, turns his head towards the horse, and the rider, raised in the stirrups and slightly bent over for extra strength, lances the bull while holding the bridle of his mount.

Sayre emphasises the theatrical effect achieved with the play of light and shadow in the aquatint.

Several authors have pointed out the anachronism of Charles V's clothing, citing the custom of fighting in old-fashioned dress, and some have stressed the fact that Goya places this picture before that of the Cid, which would break the chronological order of the events depicted.