The artwork titled “Portrait of Leandro Fernandez de Moratin” was painted by the renowned artist Francisco Goya in 1799. It is an oil painting on canvas that measures 56 by 73 centimeters and is currently held at the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in Madrid, Spain. As a product of the Romanticism movement, this portrait is an archetype of the genre that captures the essence of the individual through Goya’s masterful use of light and shadow.
In this particular portrait, Goya presents Leandro Fernandez de Moratin with a strong, direct gaze, his face illuminated against a dark, undifferentiated background. The soft lighting accentuates the sitter’s facial features, creating a sense of intimacy and psychological depth. Moratin’s attire suggests the fashion of the day with a high-collared shirt and a dark coat that gives a sense of the sitter’s social status without being ostentatious. The brushwork is evident in the soft blending of the flesh tones and the delicate handling of the hair and facial features. The overall atmosphere of the portrait is one of quiet contemplation, reflective of the intellectual aura associated with Moratin, who was a playwright and poet. Goya’s skillful use of chiaroscuro enhances the three-dimensional effect, giving the figure presence and weight. Overall, the portrait is an exemplary work, combining the artist’s attention to realism with the emotional expressiveness characteristic of Romantic art.
