Portrait of the Matador Pedro Romero
1795-1798
Meet the 18th-century equivalent of a rock star: legendary bullfighter Pedro Romero, captured here by Francisco de Goya looking impossibly suave in his ruffled shirt and shimmering silver vest. Romero was an absolute icon of the Spanish bullring, famously retiring undefeated after killing over 4,000 bulls without a single scratch. Goya painted this portrait around 1795 to immortalize the matador's cool, collected gaze, perfectly blending the raw danger of his profession with an air of aristocratic elegance. It’s a masterclass in capturing celebrity long before the age of paparazzi!
Location: Museo de Bellas Artes, Bilbao
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