Friar Pedro Binds El Maragato with a Rope

This painting captures a dramatic moment in the tale of Friar Pedro de Zaldivia and the notorious bandit, El Maragato. Here, the friar has successfully apprehended the outlaw, binding his hands with a thick rope. The scene unfolds with a sense of raw immediacy, as Goya uses a stark, almost theatrical lighting to illuminate the struggle. The friar, a figure of righteous determination, contrasts sharply with the subdued, defeated bandit. The composition emphasizes the physical tension of the encounter, drawing the viewer into the close quarters of the confrontation. This work is one of several panels Goya painted depicting different stages of this real-life event, which captivated the Spanish public in 1806.