Pygmalion and Galatea

Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (Francisco de Goya)

possibly about 1812–1820

Sepia wash

J. Paul Getty Museum

A man in dark clothing, seated and leaning forward, raises a hammer over his head. A woman in a long dress stands to his right, looking towards the viewer. The drawing is rendered in sepia wash. A sculptor chisels away at his statue of an ideal woman. Francisco José Goya y Lucientes here referred to the mythological story of Pygmalion, the legendary king of Cyprus who fell in love with a statue. According to Ovid, Pygmalion carved the statue from ivory with wonderful artistry. Every night he prayed to Venus that he might have a wife as beautiful as the image he had created. Finally, the goddess caused the statue to come to life. As Pygmalion's wife, she came to be called Galatea. In a possible self-portrait, Goya depicted Pygmalion with his legs spread wide, readying himself to take a mighty swing at the chisel, which is ai