Who painted General Antonio Ricardos?

General Antonio Ricardos was painted by Francisco de Goya in 1793-01-01.

Where can I see General Antonio Ricardos?

General Antonio Ricardos is held by Museo del Prado.

What movement is General Antonio Ricardos?

General Antonio Ricardos is associated with Spanish Baroque Tenebrist.

Can I buy a print of General Antonio Ricardos?

Museum-quality prints of General Antonio Ricardos are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

General Antonio Ricardos

Francisco de Goya , 1797

General Antonio Ricardos is an oil painting by the Spanish Baroque Tenebrist artist Francisco de Goya. It dates from 1797 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado. Francisco Goya executed this oil on canvas portrait in 1797, presenting the Spanish military commander Antonio Ricardos.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The work depicts General Antonio Ricardos y Carrillo de Albornoz, a Spanish military leader honored with the Order of Charles III.

The work depicts General Antonio Ricardos y Carrillo de Albornoz, a Spanish military leader honored with the Order of Charles III. Painted in 1793 by Francisco Goya, the portrait presents Ricardos in a formal pose that emphasizes his status and service. The inclusion of the order’s insignia underscores his recognition within the Spanish nobility and military hierarchy.

Goya’s rendering aligns with the conventions of official portraiture of the period, conveying dignity and authority through both composition and the sitter’s attire.

Technique & Style

The portrait is executed in oil paint on canvas. The handling aligns with Goya’s mature technique of the early 1790s, emphasizing fluid brushwork and a restrained palette to convey the sitter’s authority while preserving naturalistic detail. The composition is structured around a three-quarter view, with Ricardos positioned in military dress against a neutral ground, focusing attention on his facial features and insignia.

The work’s formal qualities reflect the conventions of Spanish Enlightenment portraiture, where clarity of form and restrained color heighten the subject’s gravitas. The canvas support measures 112 cm in height by 84 cm in width.

History & Provenance

The portrait General Antonio Ricardos was painted by Francisco Goya in 1793, as indicated by both the artist’s cataloguing and the work’s inclusion in Goya’s early 1790s output of military portraits.

The painting entered the Museo del Prado’s collection, where it remains, and is listed among the museum’s holdings as a key example of Goya’s portraiture from this period. Measuring 112 cm in height and 84 cm in width, the work depicts General Antonio Ricardos y Carrillo de Albornoz, a prominent military figure.

The portrait of General Antonio Ricardos, painted by Francisco Goya in 1793, is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. The work is executed in oil on canvas and depicts Antonio Ricardos y Carrillo de Albornoz, a recipient of the Order of Charles III. While the sources confirm the painting's current location within the Prado's holdings, they do not provide a specific inventory or accession number. Additionally, the available documentation does not record any past or future exhibition history for this specific piece.

Overview

Francisco Goya executed this oil on canvas portrait in 1797, presenting the Spanish military commander Antonio Ricardos. The composition places the officer in a seated pose, illuminated against a deep, shadowed backdrop that draws attention to his elaborate uniform and insignia. The work is part of the Prado Museum’s collection and exemplifies Goya’s early engagement with portraiture.