Francisco Goya, painter to the court of the King of Spain, did not have an easy life. When success came to him, other painters were jealous of his talents. He loved children and spent much of his time painting them; yet only one of his children lived to adulthood. Napoleon invaded Spain, and Goya witnessed the horrors of war in his beloved country.

Yet despite hard times Goya's zest for life—and furious energy as a painter—remained strong. He was famous for his portraits of the nobility. He painted people just as he saw them, and all admired the perfect likenesses he achieved—even the king, though the pictures of him were not flattering. Goya was also famous for his beautiful church paintings, portraits of children, etchings, and dramatic, inspiring war pictures.

Mrs. Ripley's sensitive biography of Goya points up in simple terms his career as an artist and his life as a man—a personality of the 18th century. An inspiring story that will stimulate the reader's appreciation of art.

From the dust jacket