The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela and the Goya Tapestries

by 18th century ArtArtPowerpointsRomanticismSpanish Art
Francisco de Goya y Lucientes, 1746-1828
An Avenue in Andalusia or The Maja and the Cloaked Men (detail), 1777, Royal Tapestry Factory, from a Goya Cartoon, Tapestry – Wool and silk, 337×217 cm, Santiago de Compostela Cathedral Collection, Spain https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/an-avenue-in-andalusia-or-the-maja-and-the-cloaked-men-royal-tapestry-factory-from-a-goya-cartoon/mAFzZaxpTqLttA

On the 10th of May, I visited The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela and the Goya Tapestries, among the masterpieces I was anxious to see intrigued by their unbelievable charm and allure …

Francisco Goya, renowned for his masterful paintings and prints, also delved into the realm of tapestry cartoons, creating a series of remarkable works that showcased his artistic versatility. Commissioned by the Spanish royal family, Goya produced a collection of tapestry cartoons between 1775 and 1792, intended to be transformed into large-scale tapestries to adorn the royal residences. These cartoons, characterized by their intricate detail, dynamic compositions, and vibrant storytelling, demonstrated Goya’s adeptness in translating his painterly vision into the medium of woven textiles. The tapestries created from his designs adorned the grand interiors of palaces, reflecting the royal court’s opulence and Goya’s unique ability to capture the essence of human experience through his art.

Francisco de Goya y Lucientes, 1746-1828
An Avenue in Andalusia, or The Maja and the Cloaked Men, 1777, Oil on Canvas, 275×190 cm, Prado Museum, Madrid, Spain https://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/an-avenue-in-andalusia-or-the-maja-and-the/a4af7051-a0c2-4a63-8aef-5fa080890873
An Avenue in Andalusia or The Maja and the Cloaked Men, 1777, Royal Tapestry Factory, from a Goya Cartoon, Tapestry – Wool and silk, 337×217 cm, Santiago de Compostela Cathedral Collection, Spain https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/an-avenue-in-andalusia-or-the-maja-and-the-cloaked-men-royal-tapestry-factory-from-a-goya-cartoon/mAFzZaxpTqLttA

The Cathedral Museum of Santiago de Compostela houses an exceptional collection of tapestries, originally woven at the Royal Tapestry Factory of Santa Bárbara from designs by the celebrated Francisco Goya. These tapestries, based on cartoons mostly preserved at the Prado Museum, were part of a commission by King Charles III between 1777 and 1780 intended to adorn the Royal Palace of El Pardo. The illustrious Pedro Acuña y Malvar, a canon who served as Secretary of State for Justice under King Charles IV, bequeathed these artworks to the museum upon his death in 1814. Acuña, noted for his significant art collection in Madrid, thus ensured that the Cathedral Museum became the custodian of these invaluable cultural treasures, enriching its offerings and preserving a vital piece of Spain’s artistic heritage within the sacred walls of Santiago Cathedral.

Francisco de Goya y Lucientes (1746-1828)Tapestries including An Avenue in Andalusia or The Maja and the Cloaked Men, Wool and silk, 337×217 cm, Santiago de Compostela Cathedral Collection, Spain – Photo Credit: Amalia Spiliakou, May 10, 2024

Francisco Goya’s artistic legacy is marked by his masterful exploration of costumbrista themes and his adept use of colour and light. His tapestries, such as The Maja and the Cloaked Men, eschew religious motifs in favour of depicting local customs and traditions. Through these works, Goya invites viewers into the vibrant world of 18th-century Andalusia, capturing the essence of everyday life with keen observation and wit. His cartoons, serving as blueprints for the tapestries, reveal his meticulous attention to detail and his ability to convey emotion through the interplay of light and shadow. Goya’s use of wool for darker hues and fine silk burlap for lighter tones further accentuates the richness of his palette, showcasing his unparalleled skill as both a painter and a storyteller.

Boys Playing Soldiers, 1777, Royal Tapestry Factory, from a Francisco de Goya y Lucientes (1746-1828) Cartoon, Tapestry – Wool and silk, 337×217 cm, Santiago de Compostela Cathedral Collection, Spain – Photo Credit: Amalia Spiliakou, May 10, 2024

The exhibition of Goya’s tapestries at the Cathedral Museum provides a captivating glimpse into the artist’s oeuvre and the cultural milieu of his time. Originally housed in the cathedral’s tailor’s workshop, these remarkable works were later unveiled to the public during the Corpus Christi festivities. Now, as part of the museum’s permanent collection, these tapestries are prominently displayed in dedicated rooms, offering visitors a comprehensive overview of Goya’s contributions to the art of tapestry-making. The legacy of Pedro Acuña y Malvar, who bequeathed these treasures to the cathedral, ensures that Goya’s legacy survives, providing a testament to the enduring significance of his work in shaping the artistic landscape of Spain.

For a Student Activity, please… Check HERE!

For a PowerPoint of Goya’s Tapestries in the Museum of the Cathedral de Santiago de Compostela, please… Check HERE!

Bibliography: https://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/artist/goya-y-lucientes-francisco-de/39568a17-81b5-4d6f-84fa-12db60780812 and https://artsandculture.google.com/story/BQXxc6wiofP4Lw

Seascape Study with Rain Cloud by John Constable

by 19th century ArtArtArt of the United KingdomRomanticismStudent ActivitiesWorksheets
John Constable, Artist of the United Kingdom, 1776–1837
Seascape Study with Rain Cloud (Rainstorm over the Sea), 1824-1828, Oil on paper laid on canvas, 22.2×31.1 cm, Royal Academy of Arts, London, UK https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c7/Constable_-_Seascape_Study_with_Rain_Cloud.jpg

…Look! look! that livid flash! / And instantly follows the rattling thunder, / As if some cloud-crag, split asunder, / Fell, splintering with a ruinous crash, / On the Earth, which crouches in silence under; / And now a solid gray wall of rain / Shuts off the landscape, mile by mile; / For a breath’s space I see the blue wood again, / And, ere the next heart-beat, the wind-hurled pile… writes James Russell Lowell and the Seascape Study with Rain Cloud by John Constable in the Royal Academy of Arts comes to my mind. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/38520/38520-h/38520-h.htm, page 97

John Constable, a British landscape painter who was known for his beautiful paintings of the English countryside, was also fond of rendering the dramatic English sky. In fact, in a letter to fellow artist and friend John Fisher, he wrote back in 1821… It will be difficult to name a class of landscape in which the sky is not the keynote, the standard of scale, and the chief organ of sentiment. The sky is the source of light in nature, and it governs everything. If you paint the colours of the sky and reflected light, you cannot do otherwise than produce beautiful pictures. https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/clouds-john-constable/IwH3AnjdEZxMEg

Constable believed that clouds were an essential element in creating a sense of atmosphere and mood in landscape paintings. He studied them carefully and believed that they were constantly changing, creating an ever-evolving and dynamic landscape. In his paintings, he often depicted large, billowing clouds that filled the sky, adding drama and depth to his compositions. He used a variety of techniques to capture the fleeting nature of clouds, including layering paint and using bold brushstrokes to create texture and movement. His works continue to inspire artists today, and his philosophy on the importance of capturing the ever-changing beauty of nature, including clouds, remains relevant.

Constable’s love for clouds is evident in his many paintings, including Seascape Study with Rain Cloud, a painting created between 1822 and 1824 in Brighton, and currently held in the collection of the Royal Academy of Arts in London. According to the Museum experts… This is one of the most dramatic studies of sea and sky that Constable sketched at Brighton. The thunderous black clouds and torrential downpour have been painted rapidly to capture the fleeting nature of the scene. https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/work-of-art/rainstorm-over-the-sea

The painting depicts a seascape with a large rain cloud looming in the distance. The sea is choppy, and the waves are rough, with white caps visible on the surface of the water. The sky is dark and moody, with the rain cloud dominating the upper half of the painting. The lower half of the painting features the sea and the horizon, with a few distant boats visible on the horizon.

The painting is a study of mood and atmosphere, with Constable expertly capturing the power of nature. The sky has been created with a series of hasty sweeps of the brush. The surface of the sea has been given emphasis by a number of horizontal incisions perhaps with the end of the brush. The dark, stormy sky and the shaft of sunlight suddenly breaking through the glowering black clouds is beautiful, uplifting… sublime! https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/work-of-art/rainstorm-over-the-sea

Seascape Study with Rain Cloud by John Constable is considered to be one of the artist’s masterpieces and a prime example of his ability to capture the beauty and power of nature in his paintings. It is a significant work in the history of British landscape painting and remains a popular piece in the Royal Academy’s collection.

For a Student Activity, please… Check HERE!