Ripping of the rogue with spears, crescent moons, banderillas and other weapons (preparatory drawing)

 See How the ancient Spaniards hunted bulls on horseback in the countryside.

Preparatory drawing of the print Ripping of the rogue with spears, crescent moons, banderillas and other weapons. If we compare the drawing with the final engraving, we can see how Goya initially chose to introduce a large number of characters into the scene, especially in the background, and then to eliminate them and leave only those he considered most relevant from a plastic point of view and to adequately reflect the intended meaning or intention, emphasising the essentials.

For Gassier, Goya's intention is very clear: he wanted to impress the viewer. Here there is only one figure on the ground, face down, probably wounded by the bull, standing upright in defiance, although in the engraving his coat will be darker. All the people crowding the scene are trying to finish killing the bull, who had previously been wounded by a "gentleman in the arena" who did not manage to finish him off, a task that is reserved for the scoundrels.