She explores the full breadth of his imagery-from scenes inspired by life in Madrid to visions of worlds without reason, from royal portraits to the atrocities of war. Tomlinson challenges the popular image of the artist as an isolated figure obsessed with darkness and death, showing how Goyas likeability and ambition contributed to his success at court, and offering new perspectives on his youth, rich family life, extensive travels, and lifelong friendships.

In this revelatory biography, Janis Tomlinson draws on a wide range of documents-including letters, court papers, and a sketchbook used by Goya in the early years of his career-to provide a nuanced portrait of a complex and multifaceted painter and printmaker, whose art is synonymous with compelling images of the people, events, and social revolution that defined his life and era.

Contrary to past projects that have portrayed Goya as an isolated figure, obsessed with darkness and death, Janis Tomlinsons deeply researched biography presents a painter convinced of his own genius and capacity for creation, one with an unrelenting drive, whose great sociability and skill in navigating court intrigues will come as a revelation to scholars and general readers alike- Book Synopsis The first major English-language biography of Francisco Goya y Lucientes, who ushered in the modern era The life of Francisco Goya (1746-1828) coincided with an age of transformation in Spanish history that brought upheavals in the countrys politics and at the court which Goya served, changes in society, the devastation of the Iberian Peninsula in the war against Napoleon, and an ensuing period of political instability. About the Book This biography, authored by one of the worlds leading experts on Goya, makes available never-before translated documents of his life, and uses new research in Spanish, including detailed information on his youth, family, commissions, correspondence, and travels to create the most complete portrait yet of an often elusive artist and the dramatically changing society in which he lived and worked.

Goya by Janis A. Tomlinson