CronusOlympiansBirth1.0023

Francisco Goya y Lucientes, "Saturno Devorando a su Hijo (Saturn Devouring his Son)," 1821-1823, Madrid, Prado, inv. no. 763.

One of Goya's 'Black Paintings' from his later years, this shows the septuagenarian's fears of insanity and the darkest of world-views. The series of Black Paintings are thought to reflect the painter's anxiety over Spanish sufferings in the Napoleonic Wars, but also from gut wrenching disaffection with life itself.
The Black Paintings are very personal statements, not created for public display but painted directly onto the walls of his home, "La Quinta del Sordo". On the wall opposite, Goya painted Leocadia Zorilla (Prado inv. no. 754), his domestic partner for many years at the home. The painting of Leocadia is not even remotely frightening as this one is. Perhaps the artist projects onto Saturn deep, personal fears of an individual's terrifying potential. What if he, as Saturn, were to lose his mind? What might tip him over that edge?