Scenes of Cannibalism  

From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia

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Scenes of Cannibalism refers to two paintings by Goya, both in the collection of the Musée des Beaux-Arts et d'archéologie de Besançon.

The first one is known as Cannibals contemplating human remains[1][2], the second as Cannibals preparing their victims [3][4].

Both paintings -- once in the collection of Jean Gigoux -- are said to depict Canadian Martyrs Jean de Brébeuf and Gabriel Lalemant who were slaughtered by the Iroquois in 1649.

Cannibals contemplating human remains

Spanish title: Caníbales contemplando restos humanos.

"a savage sitting on a rock shows the head and hand of one of his victims while a leg and ribcage lie at his feet. Around him the members of the tribe watch him and wait for the feast to begin. The work is very succinct, with hardly any suggestion of the atmosphere and an almost inexistent setting. However, the force of the figures projects from the image, expressing this allegory of human nature."[5]

Cannibals preparing their victims

Spanish title: Caníbales preparando a sus víctimas.

The scene show three cannibals. One is sitting idle, seen from the back. A second cannibal is sitting, face forward, his hand disappears in the cut open abdomen of one of the victims. A third cannibal has his hands between the legs of a suspended victim which is seen from the back.

See also

• Saturn Devouring His Son
• Cannibalism