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Eugenio Lucas Villamil (painter) Spanish, 1858 - 1918 The Bullfight, c. 1890/1900 oil on canvas Overall: 73.9 x 109.9 cm (29 1/8 x 43 1/4 in.) framed: 96.5 x 134.9 x 10.8 cm (38 x 53 1/8 x 4 1/4 in.) Gift of Arthur Sachs 1954.10.1 On View |
Object 9 of 9
This picture was inspired by Goya’s many paintings, drawings, and prints of bullrings. Goya often troweled on thick paint textures with the flexible blade of his palette knife, just as this later follower did.
Goya’s own works accurately convey the danger to professional athletes. Lucas’ humorous design, however, places two folk contests inside a formal arena. During fiestas, young braggarts compete in climbing greased poles and in racing before bulls set loose in city streets. With a foolhardy impudence, one youth kneels—pants dropped—to mock the bull.
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