Spanish Police Identifies Fake Goya Paining

Spanish police have seized a painting they suspect was falsely attributed to Goya before it was put up for auction, they said Thursday.

"Saints Adoring the Holy Sacrament" was seized Friday before it went under the hammer in Madrid with a reserve price of 1.2 million euros ($1.6 million), a police statement said.

Agents acted to head off "a possible major fraud," police said, adding experts doubted the painting was by Goya.

Francisco Goya, one of Spain's most renowned painters, who influenced much modern painting, died in 1828. Much of his work is displayed in Madrid's Prado museum.

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