Francisco Bayeu Y Subas

Vocation

Spanish painter, active in a Neoclassic style, whose main subjects were religious and historical themes. His initial art studies were with a local master, José Luzán and Antonio González Velázquez. He then moved to Madrid, winning a scholarship with the painting of the ‘’Tyranny of Gerion’’ to study in the Academia Real de Bellas Artes de San Fernando. The death of his parents and the care of his brothers forced him to return to Zaragoza, until he was recalled by Anton Raphael Mengs to help decorate the Royal Palace of Madrid. In later years, one of his colleagues was Francisco Goya, who married his sister, Josefa Bayeu. He was named a professor of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando in 1765 and director in 1788. He painted in the Charterhouse of Aula Dei in Zaragoza. In 1767 he was named court painter for Carlos III, king of Spain. He was involved in the decoration of various Royal palaces near Madrid. He helped provide designs for tapestries. He also painted for the College of San Ildefonso, the Royal Monastery of the Incarnation (Madrid), the Basilica of our Lady del Pilar in Zaragoza, and the cloister of the Cathedral of Toledo. His brothers Ramón and Manuel Bayeu were also painters. He died on 4 August 1795 in Madrid, aged 61. Link to Wikipedia biography