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c. 1795

Portrait of the Toreador José Romero

Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes

Spanish, 1746 - 1828

An old Spanish inscription on the back of this canvas explains that various pieces of Romero's colorful costume were given to him by admirers of his bullfighting prowess, one of whom was the Duchess of Alba. The inscription goes on to praise Romero as the man "who with one sword thrust, brought to its knees the terrible bull that killed the agile Pepe Illo," another famous bullfighter. Goya also painted Romero's brother Pedro, reputedly an even greater toreador.

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