Hannibal Crossing the Alps (Anibal Cruzando los Alpes)

A work from Francisco Goya's Italian period; a sketch of the final painting he presented in 1771 for the competition run by the Academy of Parma in Italy in which he was awarded an honorable mention. His painting can still be found at the El Pito Palace (Palacio del Pito) in Cudillero, Asturias, among the artworks of the Selgas-Fagalde Foundation.
The subject met with the approval of the jury, whose suggested theme for inspiration was a classic text from Virgil's Aeneid: Jam tandem Italiae fugientis prendiomus oras (And finally we reach the elusive coasts of Italy).
Studies carried out by the young Goya for the composition in his Italian Notebook show the extent of his skill.