A Picnic
- Artist: Francisco de Goya
- Date: 1785-90
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is "A Picnic" by Francisco de Goya. It's a painting that depicts a rather unfortunate romantic outing. The remains of the picnic lie scattered on the tablecloth - bread, plates, and bottles of wine are all over the place.
To the right, a man seems to be unwell, probably from drinking too much. He's holding his face in his hands. In the centre, another man is trying to flirt with a woman, who looks out at us as if rejecting his advances. And behind him, three men are deep in conversation - they look rather amused.
This painting was actually one of a series of designs by Goya for tapestries that were intended to decorate the bedrooms of King Charles III's daughters at the palace of El Pardo outside Madrid.
See it in person
A Picnic hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
