Goya, a biography

The starting point of this journey through Goya´s life in 18th-century Spain is Hughes´ own first encounter with the artist´s work when he was a student in Australia. The remainder of the book charts the artist´s entire career, describing his painted and graphic oeuvre within its historical context. Particular attention is paid to Goya´s patrons, his favourite themes (portraits, scenes of warfare and terror, satirical prints and so on), his criticism of the Catholic Church and encounters with the Inquisition, his fierce anti-war stance and his reputation in his lifetime. What emerges is a picture of an artist deeply engaged with life around him and fully committed to documenting it with an unflinching eye for truth and injustice.