The Shootings of May Third 1808, 1814, Prado Francisco Jose De Goya y Lucientes (1746-1828)

Description of Francisco de Goya’s The Firing of the Rebels

In 1808, an event occurred in Madrid that inspired Francisco Goya to create a unique masterpiece. In early May a patriotic uprising broke out in the city against the French, who were occupying Spain. It was suppressed by Napoleon’s military units.

The fighters for the independence and freedom of their native country were condemned to be shot. After the final victory over France in 1814, the artist depicted at the request of the government the moment of this execution on the night of May 3. However, the authorities could not appreciate the work done. Apparently, the bold and original manner of painting the canvas was incomprehensible to the conservative government. But today "the Firing squad" by Goya is a universally recognized masterpiece in the genre of historical painting.

Too realistic, unadorned and close to the common people painted canvas. In the compositional center - a young rebel in a white shirt and yellow pants; at the dawn of his life, he looks into the eyes of death, looking with horror, but even more with pride. The stigmata on the hands of the courageous Spaniard can be seen - the artist compares the hero to Christ, who also became an innocent victim of heartlessness in the struggle for the great moral ideals.

The faceless horde of French servants is aiming their rifles at him; you can sense no soul at all in them, like a cruel mindless machine, carrying out Napoleon’s orders. The image of the already murdered independence fighters is shocking: blood on the ground, on their bodies and clothes. The crowd going to the execution - with drooping heads, covering their eyes with their hands, clenching their fists in fear.

Goya painted The Firing Squad as an anti-war protest. The artist tried by all possible pictorial means to expose the unthinkable cruelty of the puppets of power. He hoped that the viewer, looking at the picture, would reflect on the horrors of war and curse this monstrous inhuman act.