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Caprichos plates on Inquisition and superstition make a public file of clerical-judicial terror — and still had to be withdrawn

The 1799 Caprichos include public plates of Inquisition and superstition. This Fact stores that clerical-judicial terror as a documented climate in the print file, not as a claim he abolished the tribunal. In the causal graph this event weakens Protection of Minority Rights, a driver that strengthens Having a say in government — a worsening welfare path.

Sources: [1][2]

Read the full account

The 1799 Caprichos include public plates of Inquisition and superstition. This Fact stores that clerical-judicial terror as a documented climate in the print file, not as a claim he abolished the tribunal.

Context

Pictures of a tribunal are not a repeal. Split shop withdrawal.

Francisco Goya’s documented role is bounded by other offices and collaborators named in the sources below.

Several 1799 plates depict Inquisition and superstition. They document a terror climate and could not stay in the shop. The climate is the harm; the plates are evidence.

Why it matters

A plate is not a 1815 Maja summons, which is a later file.

Who was responsible

Contribution type and responsibility level for each recorded actor — not sole-author shorthand.

  • Francisco Goya

    Person

    Direct responsibility

    responsibility level 0.35 · verified

What changed

Fact → Driver → Indicator. Relationship strength orders the paths; it is not the observed indicator movement.

    1. FactCaprichos plates on Inquisition and superstition make a public file of clerical-judicial terror — and still had to be withdrawn
    2. weakensDriverProtection of Minority Rights
    3. strengthensIndicators (2)Having a say in government
    Worsening path

    impact weight 0.5 · Effect from 1 February 1799 · verified

    • Having a say in government

      via Protection of Minority Rights

      Worse

      Strengthens · Relationship strength 0.23 (weight 0.5 × strength 0.45)

      Observed

      29.8% of population aged 16-65 years · 8.13 below the normal line (2023)

      Worse than normal

      Two readings: 30.2% of population aged 16-65 years (2021) and 29.8% of population aged 16-65 years (2023).

      20212023

      Above normal = better

    • Rule of Law Gap from the Highest Governance Score

      via Protection of Minority Rights

      Worse

      Weakens · Relationship strength 0.23 (weight 0.5 × strength 0.45)

      Observed

      43.9 Score · 43.9 above the normal line (2024)

      Worse than normal

      26 readings, 1996–2024: rose from 43 Score to 43.9 Score.

      Normal is zero · any amount = worse

Evidence

The sources behind this fact and its verification state.

Verified2 sources on file
  1. 1.Met Heilbrunn — Francisco de GoyaMetropolitan Museum of Art · High credibility · verified
  2. 2.Museo Nacional del PradoMuseo Nacional del Prado · High credibility · verified
What the sources establish

Prado Caprichos plates and Met Heilbrunn independently describe Inquisition/superstition subjects in the 1799 set.

Established: 1799 plates depicting Inquisition/superstition. Not established: that the plates closed the tribunal.

Causal path

How this event connects to drivers and indicators in the graph.

  1. ActorFrancisco Goya
  2. contributed toFactCaprichos plates on Inquisition and superstition make a public file of clerical-judicial terror — and still had to be withdrawn
  3. weakensDriverProtection of Minority Rights
  4. strengthensIndicatorHaving a say in government

Cite this page

Factrail. (2026). Caprichos plates on Inquisition and superstition make a public file of clerical-judicial terror — and still had to be withdrawn. Factrail. https://factrail.ai/facts/goy-inquisition-climate

https://factrail.ai/facts/goy-inquisition-climate

Accessed 16 October 2026.

By the Factrail desk · Method: how we source and score · Last reviewed

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