Art: Francisco of the Bulls

Besides being one of Spain's greatest painters, Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes was an ardent aficionado of the bullfight. He sometimes signed his name "Francisco de los Toros," and he claimed to have faced the bulls himself in his youth. At 69, after a lifetime of watching the recurring drama of blood, grace and courage, Goya set out to do a pictorial history of the bullfight. The result was a magnificent series of etchings called La Tauromaquia.

The etchings traced the development of bullfighting from its beginnings among the ancient Spaniards who fought...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!