Stierkampf in einer geteilten Arena

The odd title is literal: a barrier splits the arena so two bullfights can run at once, a crowd packed around both. Goya returned to the bullring again and again, and in 1816 he published his great print series on it, the Tauromaquia. This painting hides a small surprise on the back. It is done on a reused canvas that carries the painted coat of arms of Charles III of Spain, so an old royal picture was turned over and given a new life as a crowd at the bulls. The Metropolitan lists it as attributed to Goya, and the sheer confidence of the paint handling has kept his name attached.