Margaret of Austria on horseback, after Velázquez
Original title: Margaret of Austria on horseback, after Velázquez
kurzbeschreibung
In 1778, Francisco de Goya y Lucientes made this etching with drypoint after a painting by Diego Velázquez. It reproduces the Spanish queen Margarete of Austria on horseback. The print belongs to a series of reproductions after Velázquez that Goya created on commission from the royal court.
Description
Margarete of Austria wears richly patterned, splendid clothing; her hair is pinned up in a bun. The horse stands still, its left hind leg slightly raised. Vaguely, mountains and a landscape can be made out. The layout is symmetrical, with the figure at the centre. Black and white determine the colour scheme, and the light is evenly distributed, without strong shadows or highlights.
Context
This etching was made in 1778 as part of a series of engravings after paintings by Diego Velázquez, which Goya executed for the Spanish court. The series aimed to bring the works of the famous Baroque painter closer to a wider public. Velázquez's original painting of Margarete of Austria on horseback had been created around 1634–1635 for the Salón de Reinos in the Buen Retiro Palace in Madrid.
Impact
Clear, precise lines transfer the Baroque splendour of the subject into the graphic medium. The calm arrangement and even distribution of light give the print a dignified, almost ceremonial aura. The palette reduced to black and white directs the eye to the details of the clothing and the rider's posture.
Technique
Etching with drypoint allows for fine and detailed linework. Goya used the technique to imitate the subtle gradations of light and the textures of fabrics. The print was made on paper, and the plate size is 37.2 × 31.1 cm.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)