TheOldMastersPrintsSaturn Devouring His Son by Francisco Goya: meaning, location and key facts
Saturn Devouring His Son is a mural in oil transferred to canvas by Francisco Goya, painted between about 1819 and 1823. It measures 143.5 × 81.4 cm and is held at the Museo del Prado, Madrid.
Key facts
| Artist | Francisco Goya |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 1819–1823 |
| Medium | Mural in oil transferred to canvas |
| Dimensions | 143.5 × 81.4 cm (height × width) |
| Museum | Museo del Prado, Madrid |
| Style | Black Paintings (Romanticism) |
| Data source | Wikidata (Q1150997) · Wikipedia |
What it shows
The Titan Saturn, Cronus in Greek mythology, devours one of his children so that none will overthrow him, as had been prophesied. His eyes bulge as he grips an already headless body.
Goya painted it around 1819-1823 on the walls of the Quinta del Sordo, his house on the outskirts of Madrid. It belongs to the Black Paintings, fourteen grim scenes he never intended to show in public.
Did you know?
- Goya did not give these paintings titles; the names were added later.
- In 1874 they were transferred from the wall to canvas, a process that damaged part of the original paint.
- Baron Émile d’Erlanger donated them to the Prado Museum in 1881.
Where to see the original
Saturn Devouring His Son is at the Museo del Prado, Madrid. Works are sometimes lent to exhibitions or taken down for restoration, so it is worth checking the museum’s website before you go.
Which print size to choose
The print keeps the proportions of the original: if they differ from the paper, the painting is centred with a white border and never cropped. More details in our size guide.
| A4 (21 × 29.7 cm) | shelves, desks and gallery walls |
|---|---|
| A3 (29.7 × 42 cm) | bedrooms, hallways and small walls |
Prints are made to order in the Czech Republic and reach the EU in 3 to 8 days, with no customs. Canvases are made in the USA and take about 2 to 3 weeks, with EU VAT included in the price.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Saturn Devouring His Son?
- The original is held at the Museo del Prado, Madrid.
- How big is Saturn Devouring His Son?
- The original painting measures 143.5 × 81.4 cm (height × width).
- Who painted Saturn Devouring His Son and when?
- It was painted by Francisco Goya between about 1819 and 1823.
- Can I hang a reproduction of Saturn Devouring His Son at home?
- Yes. The work is in the public domain, so it can be freely reproduced. We offer it as a matte print in A4, A3 (from €18.99) and as a ready-to-hang canvas (from €69.99), with free shipping to the EU.
Updated 21 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Message us through the shop and we will fix it.
