The Hanged Monk
c. 1808-1812 Art Institute of Chicago
About this artwork
This oil-on-panel work depicts a somber scene of a group of figures surrounding a suspended, lifeless man. It is closely associated with Goya's explorations of violence and the grim realities of the Peninsular War.
Did you know?
This painting is believed to be inspired by a popular story or play of the time regarding a monk who lived a dissolute life and was executed, a theme that Goya often explored to criticize the corruption of the clergy. It captures the haunting, psychological darkness that characterized Goya’s later years as he turned away from conventional religious subjects toward the macabre and the irrational.
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The Hanged Monk
Francisco Goya, c. 1808-1812
