The Third Of May, 1808 Francisco Goya
The Third of May, 1808 Francisco Goya portrays many emotions throughout his artwork, but first who is Goya? What is the Third of May? And what three techniques does he use to convey his message about the horrors of the war? In this essay I will discuss what took place, and what three techniques he used to show the harsh reality of The Third of May. Furthermore, I will go into depth of the innuendos Goya is trying to illustrate in this painting, and how he represents Napoleon's French army. I believe that fully grasping what took place in the city of Madrid in 1808 is prominent in order to discuss what techniques are used in the painting The Third of May. Furthermore, The Third of May, 1808 is an oil canvas created by Francisco Goya.
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Sayre argues, “Goya’s painting, the only illumination comes from a square stable lantern that casts a bright light on a prisoner with his arms raised wide above his head in a gesture that seems at once a plea for mercy and a heroic defiance” (Sayre 29). The body language among the Spanish rebel is exactly how Sayre describes. If I were in front of a firearm, I would too have my arms raised in a similar fashion. Puchko states “a radiant lantern is the tool that allows the French soldiers to carry out their bloody business before the sun comes up” (Puchko). In my opinion, the lanterns light allows the soldiers to commit their sinful deeds without the public eye. Perhaps the lantern represents the troop’s desire of a hidden manslaughter in order to disguise the treacherous reputation of Napoleon and his troops. I also noticed that the man’s right hand has a wound in the center. Perhaps this wound in the center of the rebels hand is a bullet shot. Puchko attributes, “This symbolizes a plea for mercy, but also a Spanish rebel who died in love and service to his homeland” (Puchko). Throughout my readings I came across an enticing depiction. Rawlings argues, “In the Third of May, Goya deployed traditional Christian imagery of Crucifixion” (Rawlings). From my understanding the wound on the Spanish rebels hand represents his noble
Sayre argues, “Goya’s painting, the only illumination comes from a square stable lantern that casts a bright light on a prisoner with his arms raised wide above his head in a gesture that seems at once a plea for mercy and a heroic defiance” (Sayre 29). The body language among the Spanish rebel is exactly how Sayre describes. If I were in front of a firearm, I would too have my arms raised in a similar fashion. Puchko states “a radiant lantern is the tool that allows the French soldiers to carry out their bloody business before the sun comes up” (Puchko). In my opinion, the lanterns light allows the soldiers to commit their sinful deeds without the public eye. Perhaps the lantern represents the troop’s desire of a hidden manslaughter in order to disguise the treacherous reputation of Napoleon and his troops. I also noticed that the man’s right hand has a wound in the center. Perhaps this wound in the center of the rebels hand is a bullet shot. Puchko attributes, “This symbolizes a plea for mercy, but also a Spanish rebel who died in love and service to his homeland” (Puchko). Throughout my readings I came across an enticing depiction. Rawlings argues, “In the Third of May, Goya deployed traditional Christian imagery of Crucifixion” (Rawlings). From my understanding the wound on the Spanish rebels hand represents his noble