Procession of Flagellants - Francisco Goya

A sombre, atmospheric depiction of a religious procession by Francisco Goya, rendered with loose brushwork on tinplate.

Francisco Goya painted this work on a small sheet of tinplate, a medium he favoured for its smooth surface and portability. The scene depicts a public act of penance, a common sight in eighteenth and nineteenth-century Spain. A crowd gathers around a religious float, while in the foreground, penitents wearing tall, conical hoods known as capirotes perform acts of self-mortification. Their backs are marked by the physical toll of their devotion, rendered with Goya's characteristic economy of brushwork.

The composition is dominated by a sombre, earthy palette, punctuated by the stark white of the penitents' garments and the illuminated figure of the Virgin on the float. Goya captures the atmosphere of the event through loose, gestural strokes rather than precise detail. The figures in the background are suggested through blurred forms, creating a sense of a dense, moving mass of people. This approach directs the viewer's attention to the immediate, visceral actions of the central figures.

This painting belongs to a series of small-scale works that explore themes of superstition, religious fervour, and the darker aspects of human behaviour. Goya often used these subjects to critique the social and religious structures of his time. By moving away from the polished finish of traditional academic painting, he achieved a raw, immediate quality that conveys the intensity of the scene. The work remains a compelling example of his ability to observe and interpret the complexities of Spanish life, stripping away idealisation to reveal the grit of reality. The use of tinplate allows the light to reflect subtly across the surface, adding a unique dimension to the dark, atmospheric setting of the procession.