Ferdinand VII was not Francisco Goya’s favorite Spanish monarch.

He even left Spain because of the evil dictator. Goya was devastated by the wars that had ravaged his homeland. When Ferdinand VII returned to Madrid to reinstate the Spanish crown, he did some more ravaging. Goya lived through the gruesome ordeal, and was understandably shaken by it. While the war was on, King Ferdinand was chilling in France, an imprisoned guest of Napoleon. #Frenemies. In fact, it was Ferdinand who brought the French army to Spain in the first place. And you ask why Goya hated the King?

It seems the sentiment was mutual. The King wasn’t too hot for Goya either. The Spanish artist was considered too revolutionary. King Ferdinand wanted some of that French neoclassicism that everyone was talking about. Goya may have been the star painter for Ferdinand’s dad and grandpa, but not for him. Goya would never be commissioned by this King to paint his portrait. It hardly mattered. Goya would paint him anyway.

Goya had already made up his mind about this new king. Ferdinand VII had promised the Spanish folk a liberal constitution. He had promised them “change”. There are no prizes for guessing that he went back on his word as soon as he reached Madrid. Up until now, the Spanish had only wanted the eventual death of the monarchy, now they wanted the immediate death of the monarch. Spain was rioting, and Ferdinand was putting all the liberals in jail.

Goya had previously painted a portrait of the King in flowing royal robes. He borrowed the face, the hands, and legs, from this previous painting and inserted them into this one. The decorated uniform looked like such a lie, that even Goya couldn’t convince himself to paint it right. Widely hailed as super awkward-looking, this portrait of Ferdinand is probably a historian’s favorite. The spineless King doesn’t enjoy much favour within these circles.

Ferdinand VII at an Encampment was commissioned by the School of Civil Engineering. It was never meant to be a gift for the King. These engineers wouldn’t risk the big bucks just so the King could trash the painting right in front of them. Nah, they were keeping the painting. Garbed in military uniform, which he never needed, the King looked like an absolute idiot. It was perfect. Even the horse behind him thinks so.