Francisco de Goya

Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes (La multiplicación de los panes y los peces)

Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes (La multiplicación de los panes y los peces)
Datos Generales
Cronología
Ca. 1796 - 1797
Ubicación
Cádiz
Dimensiones
146 x 340 cm
Técnica y soporte
Oil on canvas
Reconocimiento de la autoría de Goya
Documented work
Titular
Obispado de Cádiz y Ceuta
Ficha: realización/revisión
20 Oct 2010 / 13 Jun 2023
Análisis artístico

See The Parable of the Guests at the Wedding (La parábola de los convidados a la boda).

Goya's canvas Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes is located on the gospel side of the Oratory. It is based on a story from the Gospel of Saint Mark, chapter 8.

The scene takes place in the open air, and is reminiscent of The Meadow of San Isidro (La pradera de San Isidro), although the composition is dealt with in a different way here, with a semi-circular (as opposed to rectangular) frame. In the centre of the composition is the main group, dominated by the figure of Jesus performing a miracle. There are two more groups of figures situated on each side of him. On the right, the apostles watch the miracle at a distance, while those on the left marvel at the events taking place. In the background, the rest of the multitude is shown along the length of the meadow.

The main group is lit up by the brilliant white of Jesus' recently washed tunic. The boy's shirt and the tablecloth also have a clean and white appearance that complements the tunic.

The treatment of the background is very interesting, with a whole range of figures depicted as little more than patches of paint lost in a sky which is very blue (not grey, as was thought before its restoration). Close up the viewer can only make out deliberate pink, blue, black or grey patches, but at a distance these become people lost in the crowd.

Conservación

1958: Mr Manuel López Gil restored the three paintings at the request of the Academy of Fine Arts, sponsored by Cádiz City Council.

1997: A collaboration agreement was signed between the Culture Department of the Government of Andalusia, the Caja Madrid Foundation and the World Monuments Fund to restore the canvases located in the Oratory, which were transferred to the Prado Museum in Madrid to this end.

Bibliografía
  • EZQUERRA DEL BAYO, Joaquín
    Las pinturas de Goya en el oratorio de la Santa Cueva de Cádiz
    Arte Español
    Madrid
    1928
    pp.388-391
  • DESPARMET FITZ - GERALD, Xavier
    L'œuvre peint de Goya. 4 vols
    París
    1928-1950
    p. 282, cat. 534
  • GASSIER, Pierre y WILSON, Juliet
    Vie et ouvre de Francisco de Goya
    ParísOffice du livre
    1970
    pp. 191, cat. 709
  • GUDIOL RICART, José
    BarcelonaPolígrafa
    1970
    vol. I, p. 297, cat. 364
Enlaces externos
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