Don Baltasar Carlos on horseback, after Velázquez
Original title: Don Baltasar Carlos on horseback, after Velázquez
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike many equestrian portraits of the period, which present the ruler in isolation, Goya's 1778 etching places the Spanish prince Baltasar Carlos within an expansive landscape. The print is based on a painting by Diego Velázquez and belongs to a series of graphic reproductions intended to circulate his work. It was executed in etching and drypoint.
Description
A young rider in Spanish armor and a hat sits on a rearing horse. His right hand holds the reins, while his left rests at his side. Behind him, low hills stretch beneath a cloudy sky. Shades of gray dominate the image, as is typical of drypoint.
Context
In 1778 Goya made this etching as part of a suite of reproductions after Velázquez. The project was initiated by the Count of Floridablanca to bring the Spanish court painter's works to a wider audience. Velázquez's original dates from around 1634–1635 and shows the young prince on horseback.
Impact
The horse's dynamic pose and the prince's upright seat give the print an air of power and elegance. Delicate lines and graduated gray tones create a calm yet distinctly present aura.
Technique
Etching with drypoint allows for fine, precise lines and a dry, clear impression. The plate measures 34.8 × 22 cm, the sheet 41.7 × 35.3 cm. Goya used this technique to translate the painterly effect of the original into graphic form.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)