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In 1792 he was ill and went completely deaf. This turned him in upon himself. The gaiety slowly disappeared from his painting; the colours darkened and the brushwork became looser and more expressive. He carried on his work as a court painter, but looked elsewhere for inspiration—"to make observations for which commissioned works give no room, and in which fantasy and invention have no limit." He painted for himself. He didn't care much for royalty who tried to please and pose for him and he exposed their weaknesses on canvas, showing their true characters. One such example is the painting of King Ferdinand VII of Spain, especially in the facial features.
1797-98
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