Goya

When Robert Hughes went to town on a subject, he really went to town. You can see it and read it in The Fatal Shore: The Epic of Australia's and Barcelona. The former is so deeply researched and then brought together as a very readable book on the convict history of Hughes' Australia. The latter is a travelogue-a-like book of Barcelona but not as you might expect with insights on the history and architecture.This magnum opus on Goya is simply amazing in the depth and the ground that it covers. It should receive a few more looks given the current filmic interest in the painter and a recent 'blockbuster' style flick release (which is pretty much utter tosh).Hughes builds the picture of Goya from the maker of cartoons for the Royal tapestry factory through the etchings of the war in Spain , through the Black Paintings and to his self-taken exile in Bordeaux. At no time does he lay it on so thick that you want to give up. This is a book by an art historian on a painter who he clearly loves his subject and it brings his work and it's importance into sharp focus.Should be owned by every painter.Right up there with some of the very best art books

Arrived on time, and exactly as described - excellent purchase.

Oh boy! This is the best. Insightful, opinionated, detailed, sensitive, funny. Takes the big picture (no pun) and considers minutiae. Demands an immediate re-read.

I have purchased a few books on Goya and this one is by far the most informative.It gives interesting details and insights in both the artist's life and his works.Would definitely recommend.

A good compact book with great pictures and story of Goya and his life.

superb inexpensive review of Goya's work

Engrossing book not only about the artist Goya but also the history of the times he lived in. Having recently seen Goya's Ghosts I wanted to find out much more. I was intrigued to see too, well after reading this book, that the writer Robert Hughes is quite high profile at present and has been making controversial comments regarding Damian Hirst and his recent auction at Sotherby's.Goya lived in Spain during the time of the Spanish Inquisition and in his own way discretely protested by use of his etchings and paintings. Interestingly too, he was deaf from the age of 46 but lived on into his 80s - unusual for the times when most people died at an early age from infectious disease. Due to his long life there is a wealth of visual information reflecting that era and the historical changes that took place including the invasion by Napoleon. This book is enormously interesting with full descriptions of the paintings and the background to them. I would highly recommend this writer.

I've been a fan of the Spanish Peninsular War (1808-14) from time immemorial, I own a copy of the Goya portrait of Wellington (the one stolen from the National Portrait Gallery and shown in Dr. No's lair in the first James Bond picture), and I'm a fan of Robert Hughes' work, especially The Fatal Shore! Other than a brief visit to the Prado Museum in Madrid in 2003, I knew next to nothing on Goya but I liked his Disastres series and he knew Wellington, a personal hero of mine.I was browsing the Mitchell Library in Sydney recently and came across a copy of Hughes' book on Goya, it was like holding a gold bar in my hand, it was that heavy, and with good reason. The pages are of pure gloss because they contain high quality reproductions of many of Goya's most brilliant paintings, many of which I'd seen at the Prado. After the most cursory flick through this book I knew I had to own it. Which I duly did shortly thereafter.I read it straight away and was blown away - by the author's in-depth understanding of the subject, of his own demonic battles; physical and temporal (WA Justice of which I have a unique sympathy) and his truly engaging narrative that is a mix of historical insights, pure empathy with the subject, total understanding of the painting, it origins and meanings, and a biting wit (and withering irony) when it comes to subjects to the author's distaste (e.g. Ferdinand VII and the Inquisition). As an avid reader of many subjects, I was transfixed by the beauty of this book and the words on the page, that it took me longer than normal to read a book of such magnitude. Thinking back now, the experience of reading it sends a shiver down my spine, it was such an experience. I don't think I can read another art book again and feel the same. Hughes' raised the bar and he knows it.I have three minor complaints: first, the cover page needs a descriptor to accompany the title - "Goya" is too simple for the non-aficionado; second, a portrait of Joseph Bonaparte (though non were painted by Goya himself) would help the narrative during the middle phase of the book; and third, please Robert Hughes do not hold back on criticism WA or its justice system, this institution did you wrong and it fails thousands of people every year. The lack of criticism perpetuates the inequities it practices and there is no counterweight to its oppression, like the Inquisition. Goya would certainly understand this and empathise accordingly.To all else, this book is simply one of the best I have ever read, and I am not into art! Do yourself a favour and buy it, if not read it at the library!