Francisco de Goya: The phenomenon of ‘goyitis’ in Spain

The term ‘goyitis’ has been coined to describe a social phenomenon in Spain where art owners frequently believe that paintings discovered in their homes are authentic works by Francisco de Goya (1746–1828).

Experts note that while Goya had a long and prolific career, the likelihood of owning an original work is extremely low. Data from the Centre d’art de l’époque moderne de Lleida (Caem) indicates that out of nearly 40 potential Goyas studied over the last eight years, only three were confirmed to be authentic.

With the bicentenary of the painter's death approaching in 2028, observers suggest this trend of misidentification may increase.