The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam has announced that a long-lost painting, previously dismissed as a work by Rembrandt van Rijn, has been confirmed as authentic. The artwork, titled 'Vision of Zacharias in the Temple,' was painted in 1633 when Rembrandt was just 27 years old.
Key Takeaways
The Rijksmuseum has confirmed that a long-lost painting, 'Vision of Zacharias in the Temple,' is indeed by Rembrandt van Rijn. The artwork, which depicts a biblical scene, was previously dismissed and had not been on public display for decades. It will now be exhibited at the museum.
- Rijksmuseum confirms authenticity of 'Vision of Zacharias in the Temple' as a genuine Rembrandt
- Painting had been dismissed and privately owned since 1961
- High-tech scans and analysis confirmed Rembrandt's authorship
- The artwork will be displayed at the Rijksmuseum starting Wednesday
- Discovery raises hopes for more unknown Rembrandt works
The painting depicts a biblical scene where high priest Zacharias is visited by the Archangel Gabriel, who tells him that he and his wife will have a son, John the Baptist. The surprised expression of Zacharias is highlighted by light heralding the arrival of Gabriel.
According to Taco Dibbits, director of the Rijksmuseum, the museum often receives emails from people inquiring if their paintings might be by Rembrandt. 'We always hope to find a new Rembrandt, but this happens rarely,' he said. The discovery was described as finding 'a needle in a haystack.'
The painting had not been on public display for decades after being bought by a private collector in 1961, a year after it was deemed not to be a Rembrandt. It will now go on show among other masterpieces at the Rijksmuseum starting Wednesday.
An in-depth study of the work, including macro X-ray fluorescence scans and comparisons with other works by Rembrandt, confirmed its authenticity. The wood used for the panel was dated to before 1633, and the pigments and layers of paint matched those used by Rembrandt in his other paintings.
The work joins about 350 known Rembrandt paintings and raises hopes that there may be more undiscovered works by the Dutch master. 'We're not actively looking for new paintings by Rembrandt, but I think this gives us hope — not just us, but everyone who's interested in Rembrandt,' said Jonathan Bikker, curator of 17th-century Dutch paintings at the Rijksmuseum.
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