Does the Colossus belong to Goya? S debate continues

The painting "Colossus" (Colossus), located in the collection of the Prado Museum in Madrid, is one of the most famous in its exhibition. In 2008, the canvas was attributed to the authorship of one of the followers of the great Goya. However, recent studies by a professor from the University of Zaragoza show that the work may belong to the master himself.

This month, Carlos Foradada published an article in the journal of the Association of Aragonese Art Critics, which provides evidence of Goya’s authorship.

In particular, Foradad’s report addresses a number of issues raised in the 2008 report by Manuela Mena, the lead curator of the Prado Museum. Mena dates the painting around 1808-1818 (disputed dates), and the work itself ascribes to one of the followers of Goya. The report analyzed paint pigments, technology and painting style. Scientists have discovered significant differences with other works of Goya, where the authorship of the great painter is not in doubt.

However, a number of scientists, even despite the evidence cited, even then spoke in favor of the version that Goya himself wrote all the same. Disputes over the authorship of the painting, according to Mark McDonald, curator of the department of ancient prints and Spanish drawings (Old Master prints and Spanish drawings) in the British Museum (British Museum), are explained by the fact that both sides on this issue provide convincing evidence in support of their claims. The key debate about the attribution of the picture is the quality of the author’s artistic technique.

Contrary to Mena’s conclusions that the paints and compositions used are not characteristic of the great artist, Foradada argues, on the contrary, that the materials that were used to paint the canvas are somewhat innovative, and are even an omen of some of Picasso’s methods.

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One way or another, the debate over Colossus authorship has been going on for several years. Back in 2009, some scholars and professors from various Spanish institutions publicly opposed the official arguments of the Prado staff.

So expert on the work of Goya Sarah Symmons (Sarah Symmons) from the University of Essex (University of Essex), believes the recent study of Foradada is more accurate. In her opinion, the part of the paper on which “Colossus” is written completely coincides with the material used by Goya when creating his other works. In addition, Simmons believes that it is impossible to compare this work with earlier paintings by the master, since any great artist "does not stand still, but progresses, develops, and experimentes."

Representatives of the Prado Museum in this matter prefer to adhere to their point of view and, apparently, are not going to change it yet.