The Black Paintings at a glance
The Black Paintings (Die Schwarzen Gemälde) are 14 scenes that Francisco de Goya painted for the walls of the Quinta del Sordo, a house. The scenes were spread over rooms on both floors of the house. They were painted dry on plaster using oil, so they are not frescoes in the technical sense, although many writers use that word. The picture beside this text is La Leocadia, another scene of the cycle.
This site is an independent guide, not the museum's website. The room numbers below come from the museum's records for individual works. They are not a promise about the whole cycle on the day you visit, so look at the digital plan when you arrive.
From the walls of a house to the Prado
The dates the museum gives for the move.
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1820–1823 | Goya paints Saturn, one of the scenes, as a wall painting |
| 1873 | Baron Émile d'Erlanger buys the house and has the wall paintings transferred to canvas |
| 1881 | The paintings pass to the Spanish state |
| 1889 | The Prado begins to show them |
Because the scenes were moved from plaster to canvas, what you see in the museum is the transferred version. This also explains why the museum talks about a cycle: the works were made as parts of one decoration for one house.
Our picks: tours for Goya's Black Paintings
Guided Prado visits with entry included, one of them before opening hours.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Prado tour before opening hours
Museum entry before the public opens and an English-speaking guide are included, covering Las Meninas, the Black Paintings and the Garden of Earthly Delights. Tips and hotel transfer are extra.
Check availability →
Prado tour with a certified guide
A certified official guide and the Prado ticket are included. Tips, food, water and hotel transfer are extra.
Check availability →
Prado guided tour with priority entry
Museum entry without the ticket queue and a professional guide are included. Tips are not.
Check availability →Prado Museum tours and tickets
Guided visits of the Prado's masterpieces, including Goya, and entry tickets, with live prices and availability.
The works named in the museum's record
Spanish titles with an English rendering.
Saturn (Saturno)
Painted in 1820–1823 and listed in room 067. The record explains that it began as a wall painting and was moved to canvas. It is the work to look up first on the plan.
The Witches' Sabbath (El aquelarre, El gran cabrón)
The museum's record uses both Spanish titles for this scene.
Judith and Holofernes (Judit y Holofernes)
Another scene from the cycle, named in the record for Saturn as a related work.
The Pilgrimage of San Isidro (La Romería de San Isidro)
A scene named in the same list of related works.
The Fates (Las Parcas)
Listed among the related works.
The Reading (La lectura)
Also named in the record.
These are examples from the museum's list, not all 14 scenes. The museum's record for Saturn gives the room for that work only. It does not say that every other scene hangs in the same room, so do not assume it.
How to find the Black Paintings in the museum
A short method that works whatever the current hanging is.
Start with Saturn in room 067
Look at the digital plan, find room 067 and go there first. Then check the plan for the other scenes of the cycle.
Expect that not every scene is on view
Works can be lent, restored or moved, and the rules let the museum close a room for a time without a refund. If a scene you want is missing, check the plan for another room.
Add Goya's other work
The Third of May 1808 and The Second of May 1808 are listed in room 064. Our guide to The Third of May 1808 explains what the museum says about them.
Combine with the highlights
Our list of 15 famous paintings shows how Goya fits with Velázquez and Bosch in one visit.
Plan your visit
Prices and times as listed for 2026.
Tickets
The general ticket costs €15 and covers the collection. The reduced ticket is €7.50 for people over 65 and holders of an accepted youth pass or large-family card. Pick a date and time slot when you buy. More on the tickets page.
Hours
The museum is open Monday to Saturday 10:00–20:00 and Sunday and holidays 10:00–19:00. The last entry is 30 minutes before closing. See hours and free entry for the closed days and free hours.
Photos and bags
Photography is not allowed in the collection rooms. The exceptions are the Jerónimos foyer, the Sala de las Musas and the cloister. Luggage from 40 cm goes to the cloakroom, which is free and has limited space.
Audio guide and tours
The audio guide costs €5 extra and covers more than 250 works in 15 languages. The museum's own tour of collection masterpieces lasts about 90 minutes and costs €10 on top of the ticket. Read about guided tours and check the current timetable before you go.
More Goya and more of the Prado
Where to go next.
Goya's Black Paintings: frequently asked questions
Where are Goya's Black Paintings?
They are in the Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid. The museum's record lists Saturn in room 067. Check the current plan for the other scenes, because not every work may be on view at the same time.
How many Black Paintings are there?
The cycle has 14 scenes. They came from rooms on both floors of the Quinta del Sordo.
Are the Black Paintings frescoes?
Not in the technical sense. Goya painted them dry on plaster using oil.
How did the paintings get to the Prado?
Baron Émile d'Erlanger bought the house in 1873 and had the paintings transferred to canvas. They passed to the Spanish state in 1881 and have been shown in the Prado since 1889.
Can I photograph Saturn?
No. Photography is not allowed in the collection rooms, only in the Jerónimos foyer, the Sala de las Musas and the cloister.