Friar Pedro Clubs El Maragato with the Butt of the Gun

c. 1806

In small, lively paintings made for his own pleasure or a few patrons, Francisco de Goya explored satirical and popular aspects of Spanish life. This series was inspired by the capture of notorious criminal El Maragato in 1806. After escaping from prison and committing theft, El Maragato tried to take Friar Pedro de Saldivia and other innocent people hostage. The friar outsmarted the bandit, however, shooting him in the thigh and tying him up.

Public domain · CC0
Free to download and reuse. Image courtesy of Art Institute of Chicago.

Artist

Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (Spanish, 1746–1828)

Date

c. 1806

Medium

Oil on panel

Dimensions

29.2 × 38.5 cm (11 1/2 × 15 5/8 in.); Framed: 42 × 51.5 × 6.4 cm (16 1/2 × 20 1/4 × 2 1/2 in.)

Origin

Spain

Collection

Art Institute of Chicago

Credit

Mr. and Mrs. Martin A. Ryerson Collection