Spanish artist Francisco de Goya was born this day, in 1746.

Known for his paintings of The Disasters of War and works such as The Naked Maja, Francisco de Goya was a Spanish artist whose paintings and other artistic endeavors displayed the social and political happenings of Spain. Although his training came from some of the best artists of his day, his unique voice and style contributed greatly to the art of the time.

As a young lad, Francisco started out his promising art career in Naples and in Rome. His first work of importance came with the commission to paint frescos in the cathedral in Zaragoza. Interestingly, de Goya was also involved in the creation of caricature drawings, or early cartoons, for the Royal Tapestry Factory of Santa Barbara. As Goya aged and his art became more defined, the transition from the influence of Mengs’ work to his later style, namely that dealing with nature and realism are apparent.

With his enrollment into the Royal Academy of San Fernando in Madrid, his genius quickly led him to become the deputy director of painting at the school and eventually a personal painter to Charles III. In his etchings and paintings, Goya was not only able to match the style of the day – stiff poses in elaborate dress – but was also able to throw in the influences of realism into the royal works. Goya, who had been supported by Charles III, now looked for different work under Charles IV, which was next to impossible with the invasion of Spain by Napoleon. However, under Charles IV, he was made the director of the Academy.

In his latter works, Francisco de Goya painted scenes of mass political and social upheaval due to the war. When he became deaf after an infection, he began seeing the world in a different, perhaps satirical light. His paintings became less real and bordered his early work in cartoons. Through his works, he was able to comment on the church, government, and social circumstances of his day. When Napoleon finally took over Spain and made his brother ruler, Goya remained the court’s painter, but his paintings took on a somber eeriness. Threatened because of his work, he took a leave to France for “health” reasons and went to Bordeaux, where he remained in exile. Goya is remembered as one of the world’s most revolutionary painters ever known.