Francisco Goya y Lucientes (1746-1828) was in his lifetime the foremost painter in Spain, and his reputation has remained undimmed ever since.

For most of his career he painted for the Spanish Court, providing glittering portraits and tapestry designs for the royal palaces. Yet he also painted and etched some of the most compelling images of social unrest and personal alienation ever created, leaving a lasting impression on avant-garde artists from Manet to Picasso as well as capturing the popular imagination.

In this authoritative, up-to-date and beautifully illustrated survey of Goya's career, Janis Tomlinson explores the dichotomy that has led the artist to be called the last of the Old Masters and the first of the Moderns. She looks at the complete range of his output of oil paintings, frescoes, drawings and prints, placing Goya's life and work in the social and political context of the turbulent times through which he lived.

In doing so she has written a book that does justice to the achievement of one of Europe's greatest artists.