The Black House

Francisco Goya was born on this day in 1746. The Spanish artist painted some of his most well-known pieces - collectively know as the Black Paintings of 1819–1823 - on the walls of his house, creating an interior that might have looked something like the image below.

In total, fourteen paintings would come to adorn the walls of Goya's house, known as the Quinta del Sordo (Villa of the Deaf). Goya began the first painting in 1820, when he was 73 years old and suffering from numerous maladies. The pieces were not meant for public view: "I painted them for myself", said the artist. When all of the pieces were complete, did the artist take a step back to obsorb his creations as a whole? Imagine what it must have been like to live in this house! Imagine taking dinner next to El Gran Cabrón/Aquelarre (Witches Sabath) or sleeping beneath Saturno devorando a su hijo (Satun Devouring His Sons).