“But what we call our despair is often only the painful eagerness of unfed hope.” -George Eliot, Middlemarch

In the early spring of 1746, the legendary Francisco de Goya was born. Widely considered to be the greatest Spanish artist of the era, the outstanding quality of his body of work is only matched by its impressive size, comprised of over 700 paintings, 280 prints, and thousands of drawings. His earlier compositions, primarily portraits and genre scenes, expertly wrap subjects in vibrant hues and ethereal clouds. Spanning decades, Goya crafted masterpieces for churches, banks, royalty, and private collections. His contributions would ultimately change the trajectory of the art world, and his influence will extend far beyond our reflection today. But the revolutionary thoughts born in the 18th century didn’t just give way to revolutionary art. They, as they often do, led to actual, violent revolutions.