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Francisco de Goya, 'A Picnic', 1785-90

About the work

Goya adds a satirical twist to this supposedly innocent scene. It seems that a romantic outing has gone terribly wrong. The remains of a picnic lie on the tablecloth: pieces of bread, two almost-empty plates and bottles of wine. To the right, a man appears to be unwell, probably from drinking too much.

In the centre, a man holding a full glass of wine tries to flirt with the woman sat near him. She – presumably the sick man’s picnic companion – looks out at us, seemingly rejecting his advances. Another man leans on his hand, fast asleep. Behind him, three men are deep in conversation, as if plotting to take advantage of the situation – two look out at us, amused.

This sketch is one of a series of designs by Goya for tapestries intended to decorate the bedrooms of King Charles III of Spain’s daughters at the palace of El Pardo, outside Madrid.

Key facts

Full title
A Picnic
Artist
Francisco de Goya
Artist dates
1746 - 1828
Date made
1785-90
Medium and support
oil on canvas
Dimensions
41.3 × 25.8 cm
Acquisition credit
Bought, 1896
Inventory number
NG1471
Location
Room 37
Collection
Main Collection
Frame
18th-century French Frame

About this record

If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.

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