Desgracias acaecidas en el tendido de la plaza de Madrid, y muerte del alcalde de Tor rejon (Dreadful events in the Front Rows of the Ring at Madrid and Death of the Mayor of Torrejon)

Desgracias acaecidas en el tendido de la plaza de Madrid, y muerte del alcalde de Tor rejon (Dreadful events in the Front Rows of the Ring at Madrid and Death of the Mayor of Torrejon) is a seminal print created by Francisco Goya in 1816. This powerful Spanish work, often cataloged as a component of the artist’s famous Tauromaquia portfolio, demonstrates Goya's inventive use of complex printmaking techniques. This particular first edition impression relies on a sophisticated combination of etching, burnished aquatint, lavis, drypoint, and burin, resulting in highly detailed prints of dramatic intensity and contrast.

The subject captures a specific, historic catastrophe: the stampede and chaos that erupted among spectators in the front rows (tendido) of the Madrid bullring, tragically resulting in the death of the Mayor of Torrejon. Goya, long dedicated to documenting the brutal realities of public spectacle and conflict, created this piece during the transitional 1801 to 1825 period, a time when Spain was grappling with political upheaval and the shift toward modern artistic concerns. The densely layered techniques employed by Goya, particularly the use of deep aquatint shadows, heighten the feeling of sudden disaster and confusion as figures are crushed against the barrier, contrasting sharply with the relative calm of the ring itself.

As part of a larger, ambitious portfolio, this work vividly captures the energy, spectacle, and inherent risk within the deeply rooted Spanish bullfighting tradition. The piece showcases the evolution of Goya’s graphic work during the first quarter of the nineteenth century and his mastery in rendering immediate tragedy through print. This important impression is held today in the distinguished collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it serves as a crucial example of the master’s late printmaking style. Due to the historical age and classification of such original impressions, high-quality records of these renowned prints are frequently available for study through public domain resources.