The Story Behind Goya's Black Paintings
In 1819, aged 72, Francisco Goya moved into the Quinta del Sordo, a country house on the outskirts of Madrid.
The artist had lost his hearing when he was in his mid-40s, following an illness that also left him in permanent physical discomfort, and which may have triggered the onset of persistent mental health problems.
On top of this, Goya was also deeply disillusioned with the state of Spanish politics, and (so the story goes) gripped by fears of insanity and death.
It was against this cheery backdrop that Goya produced his ‘Black Paintings’: 14 dark and disturbing works that the artist painted directly onto the walls of his home.
Goya likely never thought that these intense scenes would ever be shown in public; but following the artist’s death, the murals were painstakingly transferred onto canvas, before being donated to the Spanish state. Today, you can find all fourteen on display in Madrid’s Museo del Prado– if you’re feeling brave enough!
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How to recognize these 5 Christian martyrs in paintings
Christian martyrs are often remembered through grim attributes that serve as poignant reminders of the agonizing ordeal they endured due to their faith.
1. Saint Laurence
Patron saint of cooks, chefs, and comedians
Burned on a rack
As he endured the excruciating torment of being cooked, the story goes that he turned to his tormentors and calmly uttered:
“I’m done on this side, flip me over”
2. Saint Sebastian
Patron saint of soldiers, archers, and plague
Shot by arrows
His survival from a rain of arrows did little to sway the Roman emperor who had issued his death sentence. He was then brutally beaten, and his lifeless body cast aside into a sewer.
3. Saint Catherine
Patron saint of girls, students, philosophers, and craftsmen working with wheels
Breaking wheel
Initially condemned to the breaking wheel, she left onlookers astounded when the wheel disintegrated at her mere touch. As the execution proceeded with a beheading, legend has it that instead of blood, a milk-like substance flowed from her severed neck...
4. Saint Peter Martyr
Patron saint of inquisitors and midwives
Murdered by cleaver
Vengeful Venetian nobles hired his assassins in response to Peter's persecution of heretics.
5. Saint Lucy
Patron saint of the blind
Eyes removed
Paschasius commanded his guards to remove her eyes when she prophesied his impending punishment. Another version has Lucy taking her own eyes out in order to discourage a persistent suitor who was captivated by them.
Extra
A shared symbol among all martyrs is the palm leaf of victory, reminiscent of what Greek or Roman athletes received upon winning sporting contests. Martyrs are victorious in death, reborn in Heaven.
Spot a palm leaf - Spot a martyr!
5 sculptures carved to perfection
Leonardo da Vinci famously said, "Details make perfection, and perfection is not a detail." In the world of sculpture, this rings especially true. The finest works are defined not just by their overall impact but by the intricate details that bring them to life. Here, we introduce you to our favorite five sculptures that exemplify this mastery, where every detail has been meticulously carved to perfection.
“The Rape of Proserpina” (1621-1622) by Gian Lorenzo Bernini / Galleria Borghese in Rome
“David” (1501-1504) by Michelangelo / Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence
“Modesty” (1752) by Antonio Corradini / Cappella Sansevero in Naples
“Apollo and Daphne” (1622-1625) by Gian Lorenzo Bernini / Galleria Borghese in Rome
“Laocoön and His Sons” (40-30 BCE) by Agesander, Athenodoros, and Polydorus of Rhodes / Vatican Museums in Vatican
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