The Second of May 1808: The Charge of the Mamelukes

The Second of May 1808, also known as The Charge of the Mamelukes, was the first in two paintings painted by Spaniard Francisco Goya, the second being the Third of May 1808. Painted in 1814 in the space of two months, today both are displayed in Madrid's Museo del Prado. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1160x900, 160 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Peninsular War Mamluk Spanish Empire The Second of May 1808 ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1160x900, 160 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Peninsular War Mamluk Spanish Empire The Second of May 1808 ... Goyas self-portrait Goya redirects here. ... Francisco Goya. ... 1814 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... The Museo del Prado is a famous museum and art gallery located in Madrid, Spain. ...

Background

Goya witnessed firsthand the French occupation of Spain in 1808, when Napoleon used the pretext of reinforcing his army in Portugal to seize the Spanish throne, leaving his brother Joseph in power. King Joseph's attempts to consolidate his power provoked a widespread rebellion on the streets of Madrid. This open uprising occurred between the second and third of May, when suppressed by forces under Maréchal Joachim Murat. 1808 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Joseph Napoleon Bonaparte, King of Naples, King of Spain (January 7, 1768 – July 28, 1844) was the elder brother of the French Emperor Napoleon I, who made him King of Naples (1806–1808) and King of Spain (1808–1813). ... Location Location of Madrid in Europe Coordinates : 40° 23’N , 3°43′0″W Time Zone : CET (GMT +1) - summer: CEST (GMT +2) General information Native name Villa de Madrid (Spanish) Spanish name Villa de Madrid Founded 9th century Postal code 28001-28080 Area code 34 (Spain) + 91 (Villa de... Joachim Murat, King of Naples, Marshal of France Murat portrait, by François Pascal Simon, Baron Gérard, c. ...

The Second of May 1808 depicts the scene at the beginning of the uprising when a unit of Mamelukes of the Egyptian army are ordered to charge and subdue the rioting citizens. Instead the crowds saw the Egyptians as Moors, provoking an angry response. The resulting melee saw both sides fighting in a street battle. An Ottoman Mamluk, from 1810 Mamluks (or Mameluks) (the Arabic word usually translates as owned, singular: مملوك plural: مماليك) comprised slave soldiers used by the Muslim Caliphs and the Ottoman Empire, and who on more than one occasion seized power for... Pencil and charcoal Drawing of Moor The Moors were the medieval Muslim inhabitants of al-Andalus (the Iberian Peninsula including present day Spain and Portugal) and the Maghreb and western Africa, whose culture is often called Moorish. ...

The Painting

Goya was probably not present during the Charge of the Mamelukes. His supposed presence was first suggested in a book published 40 years after his death, reporting on conversations the author claimed to have had with Goya's gardener. ^{[citation needed]} His paintings were commissioned in 1814, after the expulsion of Napoleon's army from Spain, by the council governing Spain until the return of Ferdinand VII. He chose to portray the citizens of Madrid as unknown heroes using the crudest of weapons, such as knives to attack a professional, occupying army. That did not go down well with the king when he returned, and the paintings were not hung publicly until many years (and governments) later. Ferdinand VII (October 14, 1784 - September 29, 1833) was King of Spain from 1813 to 1833. ...

Goya chose not to paint any single action or to have any single focal point. His dramatically chaotic scene evokes realism or actuality.

Damage

During the Spanish Civil War, when Madrid was bombed by Franco's troops, the republican government decided to evacuate the paintings from the Prado. A lorry carrying Goya's paintings had an accident, and The Second of May was badly damaged: there were tears and even pieces missing. When the painting was later repaired, some damage was left unrepaired at its left border remind viewers of the events of the civil war. Combatants Spanish Republic CNT-FAI UGT POUM Soviet Union International Brigades Spanish State Falangists Carlists Fascist Italy Nazi Germany Commanders Manuel Azaña Francisco Largo Caballero Juan Negrín Francisco Franco Casualties Civilians killed/wounded = hundreds of thousands The Spanish Civil War, which lasted from July 17, 1936 to April... Francisco El Caudillo Franco. ... Flag of the Second Spanish Republic This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Museo del Prado is a famous museum and art gallery located in Madrid, Spain. ...

See also

• The Third of May 1808