ticketsMember | Make a donation

José Costa y Bonells (died l870), Called Pepito

ca. 1810
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 641
The dazzling whites of this child’s elaborate costume, tailored in imitation of a soldier’s uniform, set him apart from the additional military references guised as toys: a horse, drum, and rifle with fixed bayonet. This extraordinary portrait is most closely related to works that Goya painted shortly after 1810 and seems to allude to the Spanish War of Independence (1808–14). Known by the nickname Pepito, the sitter was the son of Rafael Costa de Quintana, doctor to King Ferdinand VII; his mother was the daughter of Jaime Bonells, doctor to the Alba family, important patrons of Goya’s.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: José Costa y Bonells (died l870), Called Pepito
  • Artist: Goya (Francisco de Goya y Lucientes) (Spanish, Fuendetodos 1746–1828 Bordeaux)
  • Date: ca. 1810
  • Medium: Oil on canvas
  • Dimensions: 41 3/8 x 33 1/4 in. (105.1 x 84.5 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Gift of Countess Bismarck, 1961
  • Object Number: 61.259
  • Curatorial Department: European Paintings

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Plate 22 from 'Los Caprichos': Poor little girls! (Probrecitas!), Goya (Francisco de Goya y Lucientes) Spanish, Etching, burnished aquatint
Plate 22 from 'Los Caprichos': Poor little girls! (Probrecitas!)
Goya (Francisco de Goya y Lucientes)
1799, posthumous impression
'Folly of Fear' from the 'Disparates' (Follies / Irrationalities), Goya (Francisco de Goya y Lucientes) Spanish, Etching, burnished aquatint, drypoint
'Folly of Fear' from the 'Disparates' (Follies / Irrationalities)
Goya (Francisco de Goya y Lucientes)
ca. 1815–19 (published 1864)
'Clear Folly' from the 'Disparates' (Follies / Irrationalities), Goya (Francisco de Goya y Lucientes) Spanish, Etching, burnished aquatint
'Clear Folly' from the 'Disparates' (Follies / Irrationalities)
Goya (Francisco de Goya y Lucientes)
ca. 1815–19 (published 1864)
'Carnival Folly' from the 'Disparates' (Follies / Irrationalities), Goya (Francisco de Goya y Lucientes) Spanish, Etching, aquatint
'Carnival Folly' from the 'Disparates' (Follies / Irrationalities)
Goya (Francisco de Goya y Lucientes)
ca. 1815–19 (published 1864)
'Flying Folly' from the 'Disparates' (Follies / Irrationalities), Goya (Francisco de Goya y Lucientes) Spanish, Etching, aquatint
'Flying Folly' from the 'Disparates' (Follies / Irrationalities)
Goya (Francisco de Goya y Lucientes)
ca. 1815–19 (published 1864)

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.