Majas on a Balcony Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Majas on a Balcony
Spanish: Majas en el balcón

Artist	Francisco Goya
Type	Oil on canvas
Dimensions	162 cm × 107 cm (64 in × 42 in)
Location	Rothschild collection

Majas on a Balcony (which means Majas on the Balcony in Spanish) is a famous oil painting by Francisco Goya. He painted it between 1808 and 1814, during a time when Spain was at war with Napoleon's French army.

The painting owned by Edmond de Rothschild in Switzerland is believed to be the original. Another version, found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, is thought to be a copy. There's even a third copy, likely painted by Leonardo Alenza, which is in the Pezzoli collection in Paris.

Goya created other "maja" paintings, like Maja and Celestina on the Balcony [it; fr]. He sometimes saw these works as a fun break from his more serious art, such as his famous Disasters of War series.

What the Painting Shows
- Colors and Composition
History of the Painting
Different Versions of the Painting
- Metropolitan Museum of Art Version
- Other Copies
Images for kids
See also

What the Painting Shows

This painting shows two well-dressed young women, known as "majas". They are beautiful Spanish women wearing fancy clothes, including delicate lace mantillas (shawls). They are sitting behind the railing of a balcony.

Behind them, two men stand quietly in the shadows. We now know these men are the husbands of the noblewomen. This painting is actually a companion piece to another artwork, Carpaccio’s "Hunting on the Lagoon," which was painted in the late 1400s.

Colors and Composition

The painting uses strong contrasts in color. The women in the front have bright clothing with rich details. In contrast, the men in the background wear dark, plain clothes. Their dark hats and cloaks hide their faces.

The painting has a very organized, geometric design. The top of the balcony railing divides the scene into two main parts. This railing also forms a diagonal line within a hidden square, which helps place the figures. The women lean towards each other, forming a triangle shape in the upper part of the painting.

History of the Painting

Goya likely painted Majas on a Balcony for his own enjoyment, perhaps to decorate his home. The original painting was one of eight artworks sold by Goya's son, Javier Goya, in 1836.

It was then displayed at the Louvre museum in Paris from 1838 to 1848. Later, it was owned by several important people, including Antoine, Duke of Montpensier, and then his son. Around 1911, it was sold to the Rothschild family.

While in Paris, Goya's painting inspired other artists. Édouard Manet created his own famous work, The Balcony, in 1868–69. Manet's painting, in turn, inspired René Magritte to paint his version in 1950, which showed coffins instead of people.

Different Versions of the Painting

Metropolitan Museum of Art Version

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City has another version of Majas on a Balcony. This painting became part of the collection of Infante Sebastian of Portugal and Spain by 1835. For a long time, people thought it was an original Goya.

However, since 1989, some art experts have questioned if it was truly painted by Goya himself. It might be a copy made in 1835, possibly by Goya's son, Javier Goya. It could also be an original that was damaged and heavily repaired, or a copy ordered by the Infante.

The Spanish government took the painting for a time, but it was returned to the Infante in 1860. His son later sold it, and it eventually ended up at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1929. This version is very similar to the Rothschild one, but the two men on the right are in slightly different positions.

Other Copies

Another copy of the painting is believed to have been made by Leonardo Alenza. This copy was once owned by several collectors and is now part of the Pezzoli collection in Paris.