The Famous American, Mariano Ceballos

This 1825 print by Francisco de Goya is part of The Bulls of Bordeaux, a series of four lithographs: Spanish Entertainment; The Famous American, Mariano Ceballos; A Picador Caught by a Bull; and Bullfight in a Divided Ring. The Huesca Museum is one of the few institutions to have a complete set. It was part of the collection donated by Valentín Carderera. The lithography technique allowed Goya to work more quickly and freely. These prints show a strong use of chiaroscuro, which is typical of the predominantly expressionist style of his later work. This piece depicts the Mexican bullfighter Mariano Ceballos riding a young bull as if he were in an American rodeo. At the same time, he aims a lance at another bull, surrounded by a shapeless mass of spectators.