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The Miami Art Journal

The Artists

New Goya Attribution Set for Prado Exhibition

The Editors ·

New Goya Attribution Set for Prado Exhibition

A painting previously attributed to Francisco Bayeu is expected to be included in the 2028 Museo del Prado show.

A painting that observers surmise was created by Francisco de Goya will appear in an exhibition at the Museo del Prado in Madrid. The show is timed to coincide with the two-hundredth anniversary of the death of the celebrated Spanish artist. The inclusion of the work, titled El milagro de la aparición del eucaristo al San Pascual Bailón, proceeds on the assumption that the attribution to Goya is correct, although a full technical investigation has not yet been completed.

The work was acquired at auction in Madrid in 2018 by the Barcelona-based gallerist Artur Ramon. At the time of purchase, the piece was attributed to Goya’s brother-in-law, Francisco Bayeu. During the global pandemic in 2020, Ramon displayed the painting in his home. After spending considerable time examining the work, he began to suspect that it might be the product of a more famous artist than Bayeu. Ramon noted specific stylistic traits, particularly in the resolution of anatomy and the depiction of hands. He observed that the artist used touches of light and color to articulate complex movements, a quality he felt was inconsistent with Bayeu’s known output.

To verify his hypothesis, Ramon applied for permission to transport the painting to TEFAF Maastricht. He recognized that the Spanish Ministry of Culture would require the Prado to evaluate the work before granting exportation. Ramon stated that if the Prado determined the painting was by Goya, it would not be allowed to leave the country. This strategic move was intended to force a definitive assessment by the national museum.

The Ministry of Culture responded in a statement to The Art Newspaper. It noted that while deeper study and verification from various specialists were still pending, all available indicators suggested the work was an unknown piece by Goya dating to around 1780. The Prado press office subsequently confirmed that the painting would be part of its upcoming 2028 exhibition. Manuel Matilla, the museum’s head of conservation for drawings and prints, explained that the preparation for the exhibition provides the necessary moment to study the work further. He indicated that the museum’s starting point is an affirmative attribution to Goya, though the process allows for the possibility of correction.

The decision to include the painting reflects a broader approach to attribution within major institutions. The Prado operates on the assumption that the work is by Goya while the technical investigation continues. This method allows the museum to integrate the piece into its historical narrative without waiting for the final conclusion of the scientific analysis. The exhibition will serve as both a display of the artist’s legacy and a platform for the final verification of this specific canvas.

Takeaway: The Museo del Prado will include the painting in its 2028 Goya exhibition based on the current working assumption that the attribution is correct.

Source: ArtNews