Friar Pedro Shoots El Maragato as His Horse Runs Off

A hand-painted replica of Francisco de Goya’s masterpiece Friar Pedro Shoots El Maragato as His Horse Runs Off, meticulously crafted by professional artists to capture the true essence of the original. Each piece is created with museum-quality canvas and rare mineral pigments, carefully painted by experienced artists with delicate brushstrokes and rich, layered colors to perfectly recreate the texture of the original artwork. Unlike machine-printed reproductions, this hand-painted version brings the painting to life, infused with the artist’s emotions and skill in every stroke. Whether for personal collection or home decoration, it instantly elevates the artistic atmosphere of any space.

"Friar Pedro Shoots El Maragato as His Horse Runs Off" is a painting by the Spanish artist Francisco de Goya, created in 1806. This work is part of a series of four small oil paintings on tinplate that depict a dramatic episode from the life of Friar Pedro de Zaldivia, a Capuchin monk, as he confronts the notorious bandit El Maragato. The series illustrates a sequence of events in which Friar Pedro defends himself and others from the bandit, ultimately leading to El Maragato's capture.

In this particular painting, Goya portrays the climactic moment when Friar Pedro, armed with a pistol, shoots at El Maragato while his horse flees the scene. The composition is dynamic and filled with tension, as the monk's resolute action contrasts with the chaos of the fleeing horse and the bandit's aggressive posture. The work is notable for its dramatic use of light and shadow, which heightens the sense of urgency and danger in the scene.

The series was commissioned by Goya's friend and patron, Sebastián Martínez y Pérez, and is believed to have been inspired by a popular story or legend of the time. The paintings are small in scale, measuring approximately 43 x 31 cm each, and are executed with Goya's characteristic loose brushwork and vivid sense of drama. They are considered an example of Goya's ability to depict intense human emotions and action in a compact format.

Today, "Friar Pedro Shoots El Maragato as His Horse Runs Off" is housed in the Museo del Prado in Madrid, Spain, along with the other three paintings in the series. These works are valued not only for their artistic merit but also for their narrative quality, as they vividly recount a tale of courage and survival.