- Cronología
- 1791 - 1792
- Ubicación
- The Prado National Museum. Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Dimensiones
- 57 x 47 cm
- Técnica y soporte
- Oil on canvas
- Reconocimiento de la autoría de Goya
- Undisputed work
- Titular
- El Prado National Museum
- Ficha: realización/revisión
- 21 Feb 2010 / 15 Jun 2023
- Inventario
- (P00744)
This work came from the Royal Collection.
Whilst the work was undergoing a comprehensive clean in 1987, it was discovered that underneath this portrait of a bullfighting picador there was hidden an equestrian portrait of a young Manuel Godoy (1767-1851). Clearly identifiable are the facial features, the sash of the Order of Charles III, awarded to Godoy in 1791, and the three-cornered hat of Commander of the Lifeguards, a title he received when he was named Duke of Alcudia, in 1792. The artist responsible for the over-painting is not known, but this work may date from around 1808, coinciding with Godoy's fall from grace, which led to several portraits of the royal favourite being destroyed.
The picador, his body shown in profile but his head turned towards the viewer, wears a short bullfighting suit and hat and carries a long pike. He is riding a prancing horse in front of a landscape with a river. In terms of its composition and atmospheric qualities, the work recalls the equestrian portraits painted by Velázquez for the grand hall of the Palace of Buen Retiro in 1630.
Restored in 1987.
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GoyaMusée Jacquemart-AndréParís1961consultant editor Jean-Gabriel Domergue. From December 1961 to February 1962cat. 39
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El arte de GoyaMuseo de Arte Occidental de TokioTokyo1971from 16th 1971 to January 23th 1972. Exhibited also at the Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art, January 29th to March 15th 1972.cat. 13 bis
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GoyaPalacio de PedralbesBarcelona1977from April 12th to June 30th 1977cat. 32
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Panorama de la pintura española desde los Reyes Católicos a GoyaPalacio del Concejo DeliberanteBuenos Aires1980organized by Ministerio de Cultura de Españacat. 136
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Obras maestras de la pintura española de los siglos XVI al XIXMuseo PushkinMoscow1980Exhibited also at the State Hermitage Museum, San Petersburgocat. 29
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Exposición de pintura españolaBelgrade1981cat. 18
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Goya: toros y torerosEspace Van GoghArles1990displayed also at Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, Madrid, consultant editor Pierre Gassier.cat. 11
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Goya. El Capricho y la Invención. Cuadros de gabinete, bocetos y miniaturasMuseo Nacional del PradoMadrid1993from November 18th 1993 to February 15th 1994. Exhibited also at the Royal Academy of Arts, London, March 18th to June 12th 1994 and The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, July 16th to October 16th 1994, consultant editors Manuela B. Mena Marqués and Juliet Wilson-Bareaucat. 60
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Goya. 250 AniversarioMuseo Nacional del PradoMadrid1996consultant editor Juan J. Luna. From March 29th to June 2nd 1996cat. 79
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Vie et ouvre de Francisco de GoyaParísOffice du livre1970p. 96, cat. 255
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BarcelonaPolígrafa1970vol. I, p. 272, cat. 242
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Goya, toros y torerosMadridMinisterio de Cultura, Comunidad de Madrid1990pp. 70-71
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Goya. El capricho y la invención. Cuadros de gabinete, bocetos y miniaturasMadridMuseo del Prado1993pp. 251, 252, 253 (il.), 254 y 255 (il.)
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Goya. 250 AniversarioMadridMuseo del Prado1996pp. 357 y 358, cat. 79