Background Saturn Devouring His Son

quinta del sordo, c. 1900

in 1819, goya purchased house on banks of manzanares near madrid called quinta del sordo (villa of deaf man). two-story house named after previous occupant had been deaf, although name fitting goya too, had been left deaf after contracting fever in 1792. between 1819 , 1823, when left house move bordeaux, goya produced series of 14 works, painted oils directly onto walls of house. @ age of 73, , having survived 2 life-threatening illnesses, goya have been concerned own mortality, , increasingly embittered civil strife occurring in spain. although decorated rooms of house more inspiring images, in time overpainted them intense haunting pictures known today black paintings. uncommissioned , never meant public display, these pictures reflect darkening mood intense scenes of malevolence , conflict.

saturn devouring son, disturbing portrait of titan saturn consuming 1 of children, 1 of 6 works goya decorated dining room. according roman myth (inspired original greek myth), had been foretold 1 of sons of saturn overthrow him, had overthrown father, caelus. prevent this, saturn ate children moments after each born. wife ops hid third son, jupiter, on island of crete, deceiving saturn offering stone wrapped in swaddling in place. jupiter supplanted father prophecy had predicted.

goya never named works produced @ quinta del sordo; names assigned others after death, , painting known saturn, saturn devouring 1 of sons, saturn devouring children or spanish names saturno devorando su hijo or saturno devorando un hijo.