“Saturn” is a tapestry of three monologues: the great painter Francisco Goya (1746–1828), his son Javier, and his grandson Mariano. By juggling these three perspectives, Jacek Denel reveals the shadow side of the life of the famous artist. And by giving the floor to the men of the Goya family, he shows how deep the abyss is that separates them—and just how strong their blood ties are. This is a family portrait set within dangerous connections and turbulent historical events.
By depicting the private life of the genius—talented, vivid—the author offers an intriguing, scientifically grounded version of how the frescoes in Goya’s country house were created, known around the world as “the gloomy pictures.”