The

etching Etching is traditionally the process of using strong acid or mordant to cut into the unprotected parts of a metal surface to create a design in intaglio (incised) in the metal. In modern manufacturing, other chemicals may be used on other type ...

''Up and Down'' (Spanish: ''Subir y bajar'') is an

engraving Engraving is the practice of incising a design on a hard, usually flat surface by cutting grooves into it with a Burin (engraving), burin. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or Glass engraving, glass ar ...

from the series '' Los Caprichos'' by the

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

painter Painting is a Visual arts, visual art, which is characterized by the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called "matrix" or "Support (art), support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with ...

Francisco de Goya Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (; ; 30 March 1746 – 16 April 1828) was a Spanish romantic painter and printmaker. He is considered the most important Spanish artist of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. His paintings, drawings, a ...

. It is numbered 56 in the series of 80 prints and was published in 1799.

Interpretations

Various contemporary manuscripts provide explanations for the plates of ''Los Caprichos''. The manuscript held at the

Museo del Prado The Museo del Prado ( ; ), officially known as Museo Nacional del Prado, is the main Spanish national art museum, located in central Madrid. It houses collections of Art of Europe, European art, dating from the 12th century to the early 20th ce ...

is considered an autograph by Goya, though it appears to obscure the artist's riskier intentions by offering a moralizing interpretation. Two other manuscripts, one owned by Ayala and another at the

National Library of Spain National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, ce ...

, emphasize the more biting significance of the prints. Explanation from the

manuscript:
''"''Fortune treats those who court her very badly. She repays the effort of climbing with smoke, and punishes the one who has risen by casting him down.''" (La fortuna trata muy mal a quien la obsequia. Paga con humo la fatiga de subir y al que ha subido le castiga con precipitarle.)'' Ayala manuscript: ''"''Prince of Peace.

Charles IV of Spain Charles IV (; 11 November 1748 – 20 January 1819) was King of Spain and ruler of the Spanish Empire from 1788 to 1808. The Spain inherited by Charles IV gave few indications of instability, but during his reign, Spain entered a series of disa ...

granted

Manuel Godoy Manuel de Godoy y Álvarez de Faria Ríos (12 May 1767 – 4 October 1851), 1st ''Prince of the Peace'', 1st ''Duke of Alcudia'', 1st ''Duke of Sueca'', 1st ''Baron of Mascalbó'', was the First Secretary of State of the Kingdom of Spain from ...

the title ''Prince of Peace'' in 1795 after the signing of the Treaty of Basel, which ended the war against the

French First Republic In the history of France, the First Republic (), sometimes referred to in historiography as Revolutionary France, and officially the French Republic (), was founded on 21 September 1792 during the French Revolution. The First Republic lasted un ...

. Lust lifts him by the feet; it fills his head with smoke and wind, and he hurls lightning at his rivals..." ''(Príncipe de la Paz. La lujuria le eleva por los pies; se le llena la cabeza de humo y viento, y despide rayos contra sus émulos...)''

manuscript:
"The Prince of Peace, raised by lust and with his head full of smoke, wields lightning''Vibra'': "By extension, it means to hurl something with force and violence, especially those things that create vibrations in their movement" (Academia Española, ''Diccionario de la lengua castellana'', Madrid, 1791). ''Rayo'': "Ruin, misfortune, or sudden and unexpected punishment" (Academia Española, ''Diccionario de la lengua castellana'', Madrid, 1791). against good ministers. They fall, and the wheel turns; such is the story of favorites."''During the reign of Charles IV, Godoy was known as 'the favorite.''' ''(El Príncipe de la Paz levantado por la lujuria, y con la cabeza llena de humo, vibra rayos contra los buenos ministros. Caen estos y rueda la bola; que es la historia de los favoritos.)''

Technique

The print measures 214 × 152 mm on a sheet of paper measuring 306 × 201 mm. Goya employed

and

aquatint Aquatint is an intaglio printmaking technique, a variant of etching that produces areas of tone rather than lines. For this reason it has mostly been used in conjunction with etching, to give both lines and shaded tone. It has also been used ...

techniques. The preparatory drawing is executed in

sanguine Sanguine () or red chalk is chalk of a reddish-brown color, so called because it resembles the color of dried blood. It has been popular for centuries for drawing. The word comes via French from the Italian ''sanguigna'' and originally from the ...

with traces of black pencil and measures 204 × 144 mm.

Catalogue

* Catalogue number G002144 for the print at the

. * Catalogue number D04221 for the preparatory drawing at the

. * Catalogue number 51-1-10-56 at the Goya Museum in Castres.

Notes

References

Bibliography

* * * * * * *

External links

Caprice No. 56 in large format at the Miguel de Cervantes Virtual Library (recto-verso - copy from the Biblioteca de Catalunya)

Caprice No. 56 at the Museo del Prado

Preparatory drawing for Caprice No. 56 at the Museo del Prado

* ttps://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b8451841f.r=Subir+y+bajar.langFR Caprice No. 56 at Gallica
Brief analysis of each Caprice (Miguel Moliné)
{{Museo del Prado, state=collapsed Paintings by Francisco Goya in the Museo del Prado 1777 paintings 1778 paintings Playing cards in art Tapestry cartoons