I.

Introduction

Francisco de Goya (1746-1828), Spanish painter and etcher considered, with El Greco and Diego Velázquez, one of the greatest Spanish masters. Just as Goya found inspiration in the work of Velázquez, so Goya in turn inspired Édouard Manet and Pablo Picasso. Trained in a mediocre Rococo artistic milieu, Goya transformed this often frivolous style and created works, such as the famous Third of May, 1808 (1814, Prado, Madrid), that have as great an impact today as when they were created.