Portrait of the Toreador José Romero
Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes, Spanish, 1746 - 1828
Geography:
Made in Spain, Europe
Date:
c. 1795Medium:
Oil on canvasDimensions:
36 5/16 x 29 7/8 inches (92.2 x 75.9 cm)Curatorial Department:
European Painting before 1900, Johnson CollectionObject Location:
1963-116-8Credit Line:
The Mr. and Mrs. Carroll S. Tyson, Jr., Collection, 1963
Made in Spain, Europe
Date:
c. 1795Medium:
Oil on canvasDimensions:
36 5/16 x 29 7/8 inches (92.2 x 75.9 cm)Curatorial Department:
European Painting before 1900, Johnson CollectionObject Location:
* Gallery 299, European Art 1500-1850, second floor
Accession Number:1963-116-8Credit Line:
The Mr. and Mrs. Carroll S. Tyson, Jr., Collection, 1963
An old Spanish inscription on the back of this canvas explains that various pieces of Romero's colorful costume were given to him by admirers of his bullfighting prowess, one of whom was the Duchess of Alba. The inscription goes on to praise Romero as the man "who with one sword thrust, brought to its knees the terrible bull that killed the agile Pepe Illo," another famous bullfighter. Goya also painted Romero's brother Pedro, reputedly an even greater toreador.
* Works in the collection are moved off view for many different reasons. Although gallery locations on the website are updated regularly, there is no guarantee that this object will be on display on the day of your visit.
