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Third Of May 1808 Essay

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Francisco Goya’s painting titled The Third of May 1808 represents its intended message about war. The Third of May 1808 was composed during the era of romanticism in 1814. In this work, Goya Depicts a gruesome scene during the spanish uprising at the beginning of the peninsula war. This piece was completed in 1814, but was lost and damaged in World War 2. It has since been found and is located in Madrid, Spain. The Third of May 1808 is a traditional oil on canvas piece. This painting was meant to commemorate those who stood up and fought against the French during the uprising.
The painting was representing the execution of Spanish rebels by French soldiers commanded by Napoleon Bonaparte. This particular painting by Goya is not his first message …show more content…

The image of a stigma on the focus of the piece can be seen. Just as jesus was nailed to the cross, this man bears his wound. This stood for he men, women, and children who will die today will be remembered in the hearts of the spanish who would go to fight the French for the oncoming years. The stigma in the man’s hand is the most important part of the painting. In the group of men about to be executed, there is a friar praying before his death.
Illumination is used almost exclusively in this piece. In the past, Illumination techniques have portrayed the presence of God or some sort of divine presence. In Goya’s painting there is no religious connotation. There is more of an opposing connotation. The light is used to kill, not heal. The viewer’s eyes are carried by the outlines of the lantern. The lights of the lantern carry you to the dead body of a man. With The Third of May 1808 Goya displayed the disasters of war with a very fitting art style. Illumination was used well to bring the focal point of the piece to the hopeless men ready to

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