Description
Francisco Jose Goya y Lucientes was born on 30 March 1746 in a poor Spanish village of Fuendetodos, in Aragon. Together with his family, he moved in 1760 to Zaragoza where his painting talent was discovered by a local priest - Father Saledo. He received solid education at the private school of the court painter, Francisco Bayeu, whose sister (Josefa) he married in 1773.
His brother-in-law’s broad acquaintances helped Goya get a job from the Santa Barbara Royal Tapestry Factory, which made him a rich man within the next three years. In 1783 the artist got a breakthrough job from Prince Don Luis (brother of King Carlos III’s) to portray his family. The praise of his work by members of the royal family started a highly successful painting career. He was made court painter, and in 1789 was appointed First Court Painter (to Charles IV).
Goya’s close link with the court was broken in 1792 by a serious illness, which resulted in his deafness lasting until his death. This turning point in his life caused him to take a new approach to art, resulting in a series of 80 etchings called “Los Caprichos”, produced in 1799, including the famous “The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters”. For the first time the subject of his works had been social injustice as well as the cruelty of the world. The ensuing work by the painter, such as the dramatic “Execution of the Defenders of Madrid” of 1808 and the series of prints called “The Disasters of War” (inspired by Napoleonic wars) of 1810, expressed the deepened interest the painter had in the darker side of the human soul. At the same time Goya continued to work with the Burbon royal court, creating customized portraits. Artistically, the most interesting period in Goya’s work is the last years of his life when, in 1812, he had left Madrid for good and moved to the so called “House of the Deaf Man”, and then to Bordeaux, where he died in 1828. Numerous graphic experiments produced throughout the period and the incredibly creative approach to art resulted in the most interesting and, at the same time, most mysterious works. The series called the Black Paintings, La Tauromaquia and Los Disparates are a result of mature reflection, but also of bitter disappointment with the moral condition of the world and the downfall of traditional values.
Obverse
In the central part of coin - a painting by Francisco Goya, the “Woman with an Umbrella” from 1777, depicted using the pad printing technique. Below it - inscriptions: 2010 (issue year) and NIUE ISLAND (name of issuer). To the left of the painting - the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with the mint’s mark (m/w). Next to the Queen’s portrait - a vertical inscription: ELIZABETH II. In the upper left corner of the coin - the nominal value (1 DOLLAR).
Reverse
In the central part of coin - a painting by Francisco Goya, the “Clothed Maja” from 1805, depicted using the pad printing technique. On the right side - an image of the artist, taken from his etching, “Self-portrait with Top Hat”, opening the “Caprices” series from 1799. Next to it, on the left side - a stylized inscription: Francisco Goya. At the bottom of the coin - an inscription: 1746-1828 (the artist’s birth and death dates).
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