Francisco Goya
Felipe IV (after Velázquez), 1778
Etching in black ink on thick laid paper
14 11/16" x 12 3/8"
From Goya’s Copies of Velázquez series
This work forms part of Goya’s seminal early print series, Copies of Velázquez, commissioned by the Royal Chalcography in 1778. In this etching, Goya reinterprets Diego Velázquez’s iconic equestrian portrait of King Philip IV, capturing the monarch’s commanding presence and the grandeur of court life with exceptional finesse. Executed before the plate was beveled, this impression is from the scarce first edition, printed at the Calcografía Nacional in Madrid between 1778 and 1779.
The series not only pays homage to Velázquez—whom Goya revered as Spain’s greatest painter—but also showcases Goya’s own emerging mastery of the etched line. This print carries historical collector provenance, including stamps from Karl von Nagler and the Kupferstichkabinett, State Art Collections, Berlin.
A rare and significant work that bridges Spain’s Golden Age and Enlightenment sensibilities, this etching is a testament to Goya’s technical precision and deep artistic lineage.
