The influential Spanish master Francisco Goya created El celebre Fernando del Toro, barilarguero, obligando a la fiera con su garrocha (The celebrated Picador, Fernando del Toro, Draws the Fierce Beast on with His Pique) in 1816. This striking image, classified as a first edition impression, demonstrates Goya's technical brilliance, combining complex intaglio methods: etching, burnished aquatint, drypoint, and burin. The work is understood to be plate 7 from the renowned La Tauromaquia series, a pivotal Portfolio dedicated to the history and spectacle of bullfighting, a crucial and enduring aspect of Spanish culture during the early 19th century.
Executed during the politically and artistically transformative period of 1801 to 1825, Goya’s depiction moves beyond simple illustration to capture the raw drama and danger inherent in the arena. The composition focuses intensely on the famous picador, Fernando del Toro, who uses his garrocha (lance) to provoke the charging bull into position. The dynamic energy of the scene is amplified by the dramatic contrasts achieved through the aquatint and etching process. Goya expertly utilizes heavy shadow and brilliant light to give volume and mass to the figures and emphasize the terrifying moment of collision between the mounted man and the furious animal.
As a pivotal figure in modern graphic arts, Goya’s prints from this era remain highly sought after. This piece, along with others from the La Tauromaquia series, established new standards for narrative printmaking. The high quality of this early impression is preserved within the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. While the original artwork resides within the NGA, many of Goya's significant works from this historical Spanish period are now in the public domain, allowing institutions and researchers worldwide to study and disseminate these master prints.
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