Goya and his admirers in Boston

[By Marcia Milner-Brage, in Boston, Massachussetts, USA]

Get thee to Boston to the Museum of Fine Arts’ fabulous exhibit Goya Order and Disorder! I had the good fortune to immerse myself for an afternoon in November in the 170 works shown. There are paintings, prints and drawings gathered from other major museums around the world and the Museum of Fine Arts’ own extensive collection of works on paper.

Hutiles trabajos by Francisco Goya

To be with Goya’s work is to be surrounded by his people: from aristocrats in formal paintings to common people in everyday moments of domesticity……

Los Desatres de la Guerra No. 33 – Que hai que hacer mas? by Francisco Goya

….. to people caught in the atrocities of war…..

The Famous American, Mariano Ceballos by Francisco Goya

…..to people participating in the visceral, blood sport of bullfighting.

The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters by Francisco Goya

There are works from direct observation and from Goya’s prodigious imagination—interpretation of myth and social commentary.

The Duchess of Alba by Francisco Goya

Goya painted the Thirteenth Duchess of Alba in 1797. It hangs in a gallery of large oil paintings of aristocrats. This gallery was about halfway through my four hours with Goya. And this painting holds for me the heart of the exhibit: the regal and commanding Duchess of Alba points to the words “Solo Goya” —Only Goya—written in the sand by her satin-slippered feet. Only Goya? What does this mean? What does this imply? Only Goya could possibly paint such a splendid portrait? Would she only allow Goya to paint her? Perhaps a bit of self-promotion on Goya’s part? Only Goya could possibly give us such a breadth of human experience, with such passion? 

For me, all of the above. And then my own personal realization that only Goya could bring me together with the other rapt museum goers that I moved through the galleries with. Obviously, the Spanish aristocrats in Goya’s day were his dedicated admirers and supporters. And so too, we in the 21st century, join Goya’s admirers.

One of my sketches from the Goya Exhibit in my pocket-size Moleskin

Another one of my sketches done at the exhibit

My sketch in the Shapiro Family Courtyard of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston where a huge poster of Goya Order and Disorder hangs. Dale Chihuly’s glass sculpture Lime Green Icicle Tower was specially created for this space. For me, it had distinct Christmas tree associations.

Self Portrait While Painting by Francisco Goya

Goya Order and Disorder is on view until January 15, 2015 and will not be traveling anywhere else. I wish I could spend more time at the exhibit before it closes. Unlikely, I live over 1200 miles away in Iowa.

To see more drawings from my trip to the Boston Area, go to Urban Sketchers Midwest post Trying to be a BIG City Urban Sketcher HERE.