1746 Fransisco Goya born at Fuentodos in the province of Saragossa, the son of José Goya a guilder, and Gracia Lucientes, who claimed hidalgo descent.

1749 Goya family move to Saragossa. Educated at a school run by the Ignorantine Friars. Later studies with a local artist José Luzan

1763 Goya meets Fransisco Bayeu

1771 Returns to Saragossa. Commissioned to pain religious works for the Cathedral of El Pilar, and for the Cathusian Monastery of Aula Dei.

1775 Marries Josefa, Bayeu’s sister. In the same year, through the good offices of Bayeu, he is commissioned by Antonio Rafael Mengs, Director of the Santa Barbara tapestry factory, to paint a series of cartoons for tapestry for the Royal Palace

1778 Through Mengs Goya gains an entry to the Royal Palace, and engraves a series of etchings from the paintings of Velásquez

1788 Charles III dies. Charles IV appoints Goya Pinto da Camera.

1792 Towards the end of this year the illness occurs which is to change the nature of his work entirely, and which left him stone deaf.

1798 Starts work on the frescoes for San Antonio de la Florida, assisted by Asensio Julia.

1799 The Caprichos on sale, soon to be withdrawn. He is later to offer the plates to the King, who rewards Goya by granting an annuity to his son.

1800 A period of great activity. Many of the Royal portraits were done at this time and the famous Majas denuda and vestida.

1808 Charles IV abdicates, and the king and queen retreat to Bayonne. Murat’s troops invade Madrid. Goya witnesses the executions of the 2nd and 3rd of May

1810 Engravings for the series, The Disasters of War commenced.

1812 Death of his wife Josefa. During the period 1808-1814 he is obliged to pay lip service to the Court of the French King, Joseph Bonaparte. He painted French generals and officials, but also General Palafox the defender of Saragossa.

1819 Goya buys a house outside Madrid, and moves there with his housekeeper and her daughter Rosario. Haunted by the horrors he has seen, his drawings become more tortured, and in the next years he paints the famous pinturas negras on the walls of his living rooms. A serious illness in this year.

1828 Dies

1900 His remains are removed from Bordeaux and placed in the church of San Antonio de la Florida in Madrid.