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Primary sourcePainting1812-1819

The Inquisition Tribunal

Francisco Goya · 1812-1819

A painting by Goya depicting a Spanish Inquisition tribunal and public shaming of accused heretics, part of his series criticizing contemporary customs.

Goya painted this critical scene of the Inquisition, reflecting his own liberal views and his personal brushes with the institution.

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Painting of an Inquisition tribunal scene: a central figure in a tall pointed paper hat sits on a bench among robed clergy and seated spectators in a dim vaulted hall. A judge's bench with a candle is lit at upper center, and a seated figure in a white wig sits at left.
Francisco Goya, The Inquisition Tribunal, 1812-1819. Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando, Madrid.

About this source

What it is

This oil-on-panel painting was made by Francisco Goya between 1812 and 1819, showing a scene of the Spanish Inquisition — an auto-da-fé where accused people wear pointed coroza hats before a tribunal of clergy. It is based on first-hand accounts from the early 1800s and is held today by the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando.

Why it matters

Goya, a liberal critical of absolutist rule, painted this as part of a series attacking customs he believed should be abolished, including the Inquisition's cruelty. Goya himself was twice summoned by the Inquisition during his lifetime. The painting reveals his willingness to criticize powerful institutions through unsettling, realistic imagery rather than flattering art.

Look closer

  • What do the hats and clothing worn by the accused tell you about their treatment?
  • Why might Goya choose to paint this scene rather than a more flattering subject?
  • What does the darkness and crowded architecture in the background suggest about the atmosphere of the trial?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Francisco Goya on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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