I had always thought my knowledge of Goya was fairly substantial as, not only had I seen many of his works in the Prado, Madrid, but I had also studied the “Disasters of War” series of his etchings at the British Museum, sketched a few of his works and read several books on him for research purposes. How wrong I was!
I say this because at the end of November I saw the “GOYA THE PORTRAITS” exhibition at the National Gallery and learnt so much more about Goya’s output. His distinctly Spanish portraits, his techniques, palette and how painstakingly he must have studied and known his sitters were a revelation. The works collected for the displays were brought together from public galleries, museums and private collections from around the world and above all showed what an amazingly versatile genius Goya was. The show featured early works, paintings of the aristocracy, official portraits of the Spanish royal family, private family portraits, and those made in his final years in France.
The exhibition traces his development as an artist and tell us something about Goya the person. He was a great supporter of enlightened thinking – someone with a great appetite for people and life itself.
I have never ever seen such an array of greys used with such remarkable skill and it’s impossible to count them but I imagine there are well in excess of fifty shades!! One example of his incredible subtlety with his “grey”palette is the portrait of Andres del Peral which normally resides at the National Gallery. The painting is also significant in its display of the effects of paralysis, as Goya shows a drooping mouth and an arm which appears to have limited use, possibly from a stroke.
Andres del Peral
Goya’s wonderful understanding of how to paint the faces, particularly the Spanish eyes of his female and male sitters, is absolutely breathtaking. The Duchess of Alba (on loan from New York), and the beautiful portrait of Dona Isabel de Porcel which is displayed in the National gallery’s permanent collection, but not included in the exhibition, are superb examples, as is the one of Ferdinand VII in Court Dress.
Dona Isabel de Porcel
Deft flicks of the brush to create lace and wispy garments, evidence of great speed of strokes at times and the use of thick paint (impasto) to highlight silver, gold, medals and weapons were all employed with spectacular skill.
When I left the exhibition I felt overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of these creations which will be imprinted on my memory as long as it continues to function. I don’t often say this but the entire exhibition was a visual delight, so much so that I returned home and immediately picked up my brushes and to attempt some more portraits. Who better to try and paint than Penelope Cruz the alluring and talented Spanish film actress with those beguiling eyes! This is how she looks at the moment as work in progress:-
There’s still a fair amount of work to be done and in any case I’m not convinced that I have an accurate likeness at the moment! Finally I have just started sorting out some works for the Christmas Art Gifts exhibition at La Galleria Pall Mall www.lagalleria.org starting on 19th December which is open daily until the 22nd of December. The opening times are 9.00 am to 9.00 pm.