Arcadópolis
Bullfight in a Divided Ring (attributed)
Francisco de Goya, c. 1810
What you see
A low wall cuts diagonally across the ring, dividing it into two arenas, each with its own fight. On the left, a bullfighter lures a brown bull with his cape; on the right, a black bull runs while a picador waits on a white horse. Spectators pack the stands, and in the foreground another crowd watches with their backs to us.
The ochre sand fills the center, between dark masses of people above and below. The figures are quick dabs of color. Up top, a tower, rooftops and a large building stand against a blue sky with a pink cloud. Don’t miss the white parasol among the spectators in front.
About Francisco de Goya
Francisco de Goya was born in Fuendetodos, Aragon, and became court painter to the kings of Spain. He painted elegant portraits, cheerful scenes for tapestries and also the horrors of war. He kept experimenting until the end of his life, and many consider him the first modern painter.
More by Francisco de Goya
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