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The Third of May 1808 in Madrid was completed by Spanish painter Francisco Goya in 1814. The painting memorializes soldiers who fought in the Spanish Resistance against Napoleon and his army during the Peninsular War. On the 2nd of May, Spanish freedom fighters rebelled against the French occupational forces and as a result, were massacred by the French the following day. This piece was commissioned by the provisional government of Spain, led by King Ferdinand VII, after it was restored from French occupation. The painting is currently located in the Museo del Prado in Madrid.

Context -

The painting depicts the French’s response to the civilian uprisings in Madrid. As a result of their disobedience to the foreign power, Spanish civilians were rounded up and shot by French troops, as depicted in the painting. A group of men stand to the left of the painting and they are unarmed and dressed in civilian clothing. On the opposite side of the painting, a group of men stand in uniform with rifles pointed at the unarmed men. Near the bottom left of the painting, there lies several dead bodies who have just been shot. In the background of the painting there are more men in civilian clothing, likely about to face the wrath of the French troops. One man, to the left of this group, has his hands in a prayer-like pose. One of the civilians is highlighted by Goya through his use of lighting as he stands with his arms up in a white blouse. This figure has characteristics of a martyr but simultaneously could be interpreted as a figure surrendering. The white blouse could be viewed as a symbol of retreat as a white flag would be seen as.

Subject -

It is worth noting that despite the painting and event being located in Madrid, the subjects are very far removed from the city and society. I believe that this is intentional because the farther removed people are from society, the more willing they are to disobey moral norms and reasoning. The painting itself is an oil on canvas. Goya’s use of lighting has characteristics of Caraveggio, but Goya specifically uses lighting to highlight the heroes in the painting and the villains. The civilians are shone in bright light while the soldiers are placed in the shadows.

Style -

The Third of May 1808 has several different connections to this week’s readings and the class’s focus on dignity. Specifically looking at “‘Dignitas Infinita’ is clear: Human dignity is under threat - and Catholics are called to action”, Father Bill McCormick points out that “We have an intrinsic dignity, but it is only through our own freedom that we can live it out” (McCormick). Connecting this to the painting, the civilians are fighting for their freedom against the occupying French forces. McCormick reminds us how the“Gospel calls us back to what we should in principle know but often forget, so also it renews our commitment to action in the world. When human dignity is in shambles around the world, the Gospel calls us back to defend it” (McCormick). The Spanish civilians are defending themselves and their country as freedom fighters while the French are actively trying to harm them and force them under an oppressive regime.

Relation to Readings

The French soldiers are incredibly uniform in this painting, taking away some of their human qualities. Their heads are turned away and faced down so they are obstructed from the viewer. It also diverts their eye contact away from the civilians they are lined up to kill. This depiction of the French creates a robot-like generalization of the men. This generalization relates to the first principle of life and dignity of the human person. This principle calls on us to work to avoid war, here the opposite of this teaching is demonstrated. The civilians exemplify the idea of the poor and vulnerable as they are victims to the wrath of the French troops. Much of the civilians’s attire is disheveled and their expressions exude anguish and distress towards the soldiers. The civilians, in a way, are incarcerated although not in the traditional sense. The Spaniards are trapped by the French occupation and have lost their liberty to a foreign power. They are not be treated civilially and now have to suffer a violent and vulnerable death.

Relation to Class -