CARAVAN Board Member James Rawley shares his top pick.
Francisco Goya, The Third of May 1808, 1814, Oil on canvas, 268 cm × 347 cm
Goya's painting depicts the execution of Spanish patriots by Napoleon Bonaparte's army.
Besides its technical brilliance, this painting conveys the valor, righteousness and humanity of the prisoners as they face death, in contrast to the machine-like brutality of their anonymous executioners.
The painting is held at Museo del Prado, Madrid.
James W. Rawley is an international development professional with over thirty years of experience with the United Nations on four continents in politically complex settings. He was most recently the UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and UN Humanitarian and Development Coordinator for Palestine (Headquartered in Jerusalem). Prior to his role in Jerusalem, he was based in Cairo for six years, as he headed up the UN’s work in Egypt, serving as Resident Representative for the UN Development Programme. He now teaches international peacebuilding at Columbia University.
He also previously served in a similar capacity in Yemen. Other extended assignments with the UN include: Myanmar (Burma); Nicaragua; Honduras; and El Salvador. He also served for shorter periods with UNDP in Geneva and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) in New York. A native of New York, James completed his undergraduate studies at SUNY Buffalo and graduate work at Columbia University where he earned degrees in International Affairs and Urban Planning. He resides now on Long Island, NY. He is married to Maria and they have two sons.