Who painted The Cid Campeador Spearing Another Bull?

The Cid Campeador Spearing Another Bull was painted by Francisco Goya in 1816.

Where can I see The Cid Campeador Spearing Another Bull?

The Cid Campeador Spearing Another Bull is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is The Cid Campeador Spearing Another Bull?

The Cid Campeador Spearing Another Bull is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

The Cid Campeador Spearing Another Bull

Francisco Goya , 1816

The Cid Campeador Spearing Another Bull 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 print titled *The Cid Campeador Spearing Another Bull* dates from 1816 and is part of the collection at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The image captures a mounted figure thrusting a spear toward a charging bull, rendered in a vigorous, sketch‑like manner that emphasizes motion and tension.

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts the legendary Spanish hero El Cid, known as Campeador, in a dramatic encounter with a bull. The rider’s elaborate hat and coat signal his noble status, while the bull’s distinctive white patch adds a visual focal point, underscoring the clash between human bravery and animal force.

Technique & Style

Executed as a print, the work employs rapid, gestural lines that convey the horse’s gallop and the dust raised by its hooves. This energetic handling aligns with Romantic tendencies toward dynamic movement and heightened emotion, using a loose, almost unfinished quality to heighten drama.

History & Provenance

Created in the final years of Goya’s career, the piece entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition in the twentieth century. Its presence in an American institution reflects the broader interest in Goya’s late works and their influence on modern printmaking.