Artwork
Asensio Juliá
Asensio Juliá is an oil painting by Francisco Goya. It dates from 1814 and is held in the collection of the Clark Art Institute.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1814, this oil portrait by Francisco Goya—one of Spain’s most influential painters of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries—shows the figure Asensio Juliá seated at a desk. The work is part of the collection at the Clark Art Institute and exemplifies Goya’s portraiture during his mature period.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter, dressed in a top hat, brown coat, blue shirt, and black bow tie, holds a quill in his right hand while his left rests on the desk. His gaze is directed downward, lending a solemn, contemplative air that suggests concentration on written work or correspondence.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on canvas, the painting displays Goya’s characteristic brushwork, with textured strokes that give the fabric and background a tactile quality. The muted brown backdrop isolates the figure, emphasizing the subtle play of light on his clothing and face.
History & Provenance
After its completion, the portrait entered private ownership before being acquired by the Clark Art Institute, where it remains on view. Its provenance traces a typical path for Goya’s works, moving from Spanish collections to an American museum setting.
Artist & collection
Artist
Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (; Spanish: ; 30 March 1746 – 16 April 1828) was a Spanish romantic painter and printmaker.
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