Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes (La multiplicación de los panes y los peces)

See The Parable of the Guests at the Wedding (La parábola de los convidados a la boda).

Goya's canvas Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes is located on the gospel side of the Oratory. It is based on a story from the Gospel of Saint Mark, chapter 8.

The scene takes place in the open air, and is reminiscent of The Meadow of San Isidro (La pradera de San Isidro), although the composition is dealt with in a different way here, with a semi-circular (as opposed to rectangular) frame. In the centre of the composition is the main group, dominated by the figure of Jesus performing a miracle. There are two more groups of figures situated on each side of him. On the right, the apostles watch the miracle at a distance, while those on the left marvel at the events taking place. In the background, the rest of the multitude is shown along the length of the meadow.

The main group is lit up by the brilliant white of Jesus' recently washed tunic. The boy's shirt and the tablecloth also have a clean and white appearance that complements the tunic.

The treatment of the background is very interesting, with a whole range of figures depicted as little more than patches of paint lost in a sky which is very blue (not grey, as was thought before its restoration). Close up the viewer can only make out deliberate pink, blue, black or grey patches, but at a distance these become people lost in the crowd.