The monument, which stands at the centre of Plaza del Pilar square in Zaragoza, was created by sculptor Antonio Navarro Santafé and unveiled on May 2nd, 1885.
Goya was born near Saragossa in 1746 and worked as a court painter for King Charles III of Spain before becoming famous for his paintings depicting scenes from everyday life in Spain during the late 1700s. He also created numerous prints that depicted political events throughout Europe during this time period.
The Goya Monument stands approximately 20 meters tall and consists of two bronze statues: one representing Goya himself holding a palette with brushes; the other depicts a woman dressed as a maja (a traditional female dress) standing atop a pedestal with her arms outstretched towards him. Both figures are surrounded by four allegorical figures symbolizing Painting, Sculpture, Engraving, and Architecture – all disciplines that were important to Goya’s work. Atop the monument sits an eagle – another reference to his works – while below it lies an inscription which reads “Francisco de Goyo y Lucientes” (the name given to him after he married Josefa Bayeu).
Since its unveiling more than 130 years ago, the monument has become one of Zaragoza’s most recognizable landmarks and attracts thousands of visitors each year who come to admire both its beauty and historical significance. It has been declared part of Spain’s National Heritage since 1949 due to its importance within Spanish culture, as well as being named Cultural Asset Of Local Interest in Aragon’s regional government in 2001.
