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A Prado curator had previously expressed doubts about the painting's attribution and was backed by Manuela Mena, a conservationist at the museum and a Goya expert. The museum has now published a lengthy study by Mena, which suggests that the legendary work was done by Asensio Juliá, one of Goya's assistants.

A number of findings from X-rays of the picture have led her to her conclusion, among them the discovery of the top half of the faded initials "AJ" written in the bottom left corner of the painting. Mena also said that the workmanship in The Colossus is not as good as in Goya's other masterpieces: There are mistakes in the proportions of the giant's body and in the perspective and the brushstrokes are "slow and insecure." She added that the materials used in the picture seem to be of lower quality than Goya's usual standards.

Goya's defenders are expected to take their time studying Mena's findings. In the meantime, the Prado will leave the picture in place but change the wall text.