Which Spanish painter created the Black Paintings, including “Saturn Devouring His Son”? Francisco Goya created the 14 works now known collectively as the Black Paintings. He painted them directly onto the walls of his house near Madrid between about 1819 and 1823.
The house was known as the Quinta del Sordo, or “House of the Deaf Man.” Goya, who had suffered severe illness and deafness earlier in life, produced these unsettling images for private surroundings rather than as a public commission. Their dark colours, distorted figures, violence, and ambiguous symbolism reflect a period shaped by war, political repression, and personal isolation.
“Saturn Devouring His Son” is traditionally interpreted through the myth of Cronus, or Saturn, who swallowed his children because he feared one would overthrow him. Goya never supplied titles or explanations for the murals, so the modern names and interpretations were imposed later and are not completely certain.
The paintings were transferred from plaster to canvas after Goya’s death. They are now associated with Madrid’s Museo del Prado. The group’s title refers to their sombre appearance, but not every work is literally black-and-white; several contain muted flesh tones and other colours.