Artwork
Bullfights: The Death of Pepe Illo (2nd Composition)
Bullfights: The Death of Pepe Illo (2nd Composition) is a print by the Romanticist artist Francisco Goya. It dates from 1816 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Francisco de Goya’s 1816 print, *Bullfights: The Death of Pepe Illo (2nd Composition)*, depicts a violent moment in a Spanish bullfight. The image is rendered in monochrome and is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The scene captures the climax of a bull’s charge, with the animal’s lowered horns threatening the participants. Riders on horseback and a man on foot attempt to subdue the beast, while a fallen figure clutches his hat, suggesting the fatal outcome for the bullfighter Pepe Illo.
Technique & Style
Goya employs stark chiaroscuro, contrasting deep shadows with bright highlights to emphasize the kinetic energy of the encounter. The limited palette of black and white heightens the drama, allowing the viewer to follow the movement of the bull and the figures without distraction.
History & Provenance
Created in the aftermath of the Peninsular War, the print reflects Goya’s ongoing interest in popular spectacles and their darker aspects. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition in the early 20th century, where it remains on view as part of the museum’s European prints collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (; Spanish: ; 30 March 1746 – 16 April 1828) was a Spanish romantic painter and printmaker.
Bullfights: Pepe Illo Making the Pass of the "Recorte"
Bullfights: The Death of Pepe Illo (3rd Composition)
Bullfights: The Unlucky Death of Pepe Illo, in the Ring at Madrid
Bullfights: Another Madness of his in the Same Ring
La desgraciada muerte de Pepe Illo en la plaza de Madrid (The Unlucky Death of Pepe Illo in the Ring at Madrid)