Boy on a Ram
1786 Art Institute of Chicago
About this artwork
This oil painting depicts a young boy dressed in fine clothing riding a large ram. It was part of a series of designs for tapestries intended for the dining room of the Prince of Asturias at the Pardo Palace.
Did you know?
This work was commissioned as a cartoon for a tapestry series designed to decorate the dining room of the future King Charles IV of Spain. Goya's tapestry designs often moved away from the formal, rigid styles of his contemporaries, opting instead for lively, folk-inspired subjects that captured the everyday charm of Spanish life. The contrast between the child's delicate finery and the rustic ram creates a playful, slightly surreal narrative typical of the lighter side of Goya's early career.
On your wall. Unlock the HD download and keep this piece in your Vault — forever.
Know the artwork. Knowing its title and artist turns a beautiful image into a story worth sharing — with a museum label:
Boy on a Ram
Francisco Goya, 1786
