Artwork
The Parasol
The Parasol is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Francisco Goya. It dates from 1789 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
Francisco Goya created a small oil painting on linen that served as a preparatory design for a tapestry. The work, titled The Parasol, belongs to a series of such cartoons intended for the royal residence at El Pardo. It depicts a light‑hearted, everyday scene rather than a historical or mythological subject, reflecting the decorative purpose of the final textile.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows a figure sheltering herself with a parasol, surrounded by figures engaged in leisurely activity. The image conveys a tranquil, convivial atmosphere suitable for a dining‑room setting, emphasizing the pleasures of ordinary life over heroic narrative. Its cheerful tone aligns with the royal patron’s desire for pleasant visual accompaniment to meals.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on linen, the cartoon displays Goya’s fluid brushwork and subtle handling of light, qualities that translate well into woven tapestry. The limited palette and clear outlines facilitate the translation of the design into textile, while the loose rendering hints at the painter’s emerging personal style.
History & Provenance
Commissioned by the queen to adorn the dining room of the future King Charles IV and Maria Luisa of Parma, the cartoon was part of a larger program of tapestry designs for the Royal Palace of El Pardo. After serving its decorative function, the oil sketch entered the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it remains alongside another cartoon from the series, Blind Man’s Bluff.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (; Spanish: ; 30 March 1746 – 16 April 1828) was a Spanish romantic painter and printmaker.
