Madrid, Spain: Monument to Francisco de Goya

It's somewhat comforting when visiting the Prado Museum to know that one of the masters of Spanish art is keeping an eye on you and his work. The statue of Francisco de Goya isn't far from the entrance to the Madrid museum.

Goya was an important figure in the development of painting. While his work was quite natural, he added a bit of personal interpretation to his work that made it a little less literal. That was a big step toward 20th century painting, including expressionism. That's helped him receive fame and respect throughout the world.

The statue has been around since 1902, but it was moved to its current location in 1946. It took the place of another monument to Goya. Wonder where the old one went?