Who wrote «Colossus»?
ARTinvestment.RU   28 января 2009

The author pictures «Colossus» from the collections of the Prado Museum has not exactly set. However, experts are already convinced that this is not a Goya

Professionals Spanish Prado Museum talked about the current state of affairs for the Study of the painting «Colossus», initially attributed to a famous artist Francisco Goye. Reports that this piece was created is not this great master, and one of his students or followers, appeared in June 2008 . Then, based on availability at the lower left corner of the painting initials A. J., experts suggested that the author can be Asensio Juli (Asensio Julia), friend and assistant Goya.

But when held at the beginning of this week, meeting within the walls of the Prado museum's assistant director of conservation Gabriel Finaldi (Gabrieli Finaldi), the chief curator of painting of XVIII century Manuela Mena Marquez (Manuela Mena Marques) and chief curator of painting XIX century Jose Luis sharp (Jose Luis Diez) came to the conclusion that «received to date information can not serve as unequivocal proof that the author of the picture is Asensio Juli. While the canvas, you can attribute to the followers of Goya ».

In the study conducted under the supervision of Manuela Mena Marques, which is not only the museum's chief curator of the Prado painting of XVIII century, but also an expert on creativity Goya were analyzed technique, composition and meaning of the painting «Colossus». It certainly can be some similarities with other works painted by Goya: the bold strokes, clearly marked the details of clothing, typical for this region, the central character, clearly filling the canvas surface. However, the general features of this end and, according to Manuela Mena Marques, the final confirmation of the possible authorship Asensio Juli much remains to be done. It is necessary to carefully study the original works of this author, to identify the works attributed to him and, using knowledge of the picturesque style Juli, compare their creations with other followers of Goya. Only then it will be possible to draw definitive conclusions.

«Colossus» is in the collection of the Prado Museum in 1931 together with other objects from the collection of Pedro Fernández Durán (Pedro Fernández Durán). As a gift, he was recorded as the work of Goya, but it is not clear why the owner decided to make a picture in the list under that name. Whether simply, along with other works by the same author from his collection, then there really believes that the picture painted Goyey.

«Colossus» has always been one of the most interesting pieces in the collections of the Prado, attracts visitors to the museum. However, doubts about its authenticity have emerged in the early 1990's, and worsened after the in April of last year, has been withdrawn from the exhibition on the theme of war in the works of Goya .

material produced Catherine Onuchin

Sources: artdaily.com , nytimes.com , artinvestment.ru