El famoso Americano, Mariano Ceballos. (The famous American, Mariano Ceballos) (From "Les Tauraux de Bordeaux")

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El famoso Americano, Mariano Ceballos. (The famous American, Mariano Ceballos) (From "Les Tauraux de Bordeaux")

Artist Francisco de Goya (Spanish, 1746-1828)

Date1825

Dimensions12 1/4 x 16 in.

MediumLithograph

ClassificationPrints

Object number

1954.23A

Not on View

Label TextCapturing the drama and brutality of bullfighting, The Famous American depicts Mariano Ceballos, a matador who came to Europe from South America around 1775. Known in Spain as “The Indian,” he was noted for his skill in fighting on horseback or, as illustrated here, on another bull. It was said that he learned his technique while hunting wild cattle in Argentina. His extraordinary agility and strength amazed all who saw him, including the artist and bullfighting aficionado Francisco Goya. Ceballos was not agile enough, however, to escape the horns of every bull. He died in the ring in 1784. Forty years later, Goya, then 78 years old, deaf, and nearly blind, re-created one of the flamboyant matador’s adventures in this print, one of four lithographs of bullfights called The Bulls of Bordeaux after the city in which they were printed.Published ReferencesDelteil 286, II/II. Ducan, Sally Anne, Otto Wittmann: Museum Man for All Seasons, Toledo, 2001, 14-15, repr. p. 14.Exhibition History

Detroit, Detroit Institute of Art, Celebration of Lithography, Jan. 24-Apr. 5, 1982.

Toledo Museum of Art, 50 Prints by Francesco Goya, Sept. 19-Oct.15,1981. Detroit, Detroit Institute of Arts, 1985.

Toledo Musuem of Art, Fun and Games: The Pursuit of Leisure, Jun. 27-Sept. 21, 2014.

Toledo Museum of Art, Looks Good on Paper: Masterworks and Favorites, Oct. 10, 2014-Jan. 11, 2015.