The Second of May, 1808: The Charge of the Mamelukes - Francisco Goya

A powerful depiction of the 1808 Madrid uprising, capturing the raw intensity of hand-to-hand combat between Spanish citizens and Napoleonic forces.

Francisco Goya painted The Second of May, 1808: The Charge of the Mamelukes in 1814. It depicts the Dos de Mayo Uprising in Madrid, where citizens fought against the Mameluke soldiers serving under Napoleon Bonaparte. The composition captures a chaotic scene of hand-to-hand combat in the Puerta del Sol. Goya focuses on the raw physicality of the struggle, showing Spanish rebels attacking the mounted Mamelukes with knives and daggers. The horses are central to the movement, rearing and bucking amidst the violence.

The painting lacks a singular hero, instead presenting the conflict as a collective act of resistance. Goya uses a palette of muted earth tones, punctuated by the bright garments of the soldiers and the stark white of the central horse. The brushwork is rapid and energetic, conveying the urgency of the moment. Unlike traditional history paintings that glorify military leaders, this work focuses on the visceral experience of the combatants. The figures are tightly packed, creating a sense of claustrophobia and intensity.

This work, along with its companion piece, The Third of May 1808, was commissioned by the provisional government to commemorate the Spanish resistance against the French occupation. Goya avoids idealising the conflict, choosing to portray the brutality and confusion of urban warfare. The lighting is dramatic, casting deep shadows that obscure the background and draw the eye to the central melee. The composition is balanced by the diagonal lines of the horses and the lunging figures, which guide the viewer through the dense crowd. It remains a significant example of Goya's late style, where his technique became increasingly expressive and less concerned with academic finish.