Third of May

By Spanish artist Francisco de Goya

Third of May 1808 was painted by Spanish artist Francisco de Goya in 1814. His purpose was to commemorate the Spanish war of liberation, during which a number of innocent civilians were shot by soldiers from Napoleon's army. At this late stage in Goya's career, he had become cynical about the fate of the human race, and this attitude is reflected in the raw, expressive quality of the painting style in this piece.