A researcher explains the newly discovered 1633 work “The Vision of Zechariah in the Temple” by artist Rembrandt van Rijn in the studio building of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Monday. The painting had been lost for decades. Photo by Koen van Weel/EPA
March 2 (UPI) — Art experts in the Netherlands authenticated a painting by Rembrandt van Rijn that was found after it had been missing for decades.
The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam announced Monday that Vision of Zacharias in the Temple, a painting from 1633, is the work of the Dutch master. It had been excluded from the list of Rembrandt’s works in 1960 and was sold to a private collector. It then disappeared.
The current owner contacted the Rijksmuseum and offered it for tests, which then became a two-year examination.
“When I saw it in our studio when it was restored, I was immediately struck by the incredible power it has,” Rijksmuseum director Taco Dibbits told the BBC.
The owners sent an email to the museum, Dibbits said, though that’s not unusual. Many people reach out to ask about paintings they found or inherited.
“It came to us via email, and one of our curators thought, this is really an interesting image, we’ve known about the painting for over 100 years but we’ve never seen it.”
The paints used in the piece fit with those Rembrandt used during the time period, and the painting technique and build-up of layers were similar to his early works.
“Materials analysis, stylistic and thematic similarities, alterations made by Rembrandt and the overall quality of the painting all support the conclusion that this painting is a genuine work,” the gallery said.
Experts also analyzed the signature and the wood on which the piece is painted to further verify its authenticity.
The work depicts a scene from the Bible. It’s the story of the high priest Zacharias who is visited in the temple by the Archangel Gabriel. The angel tells Zacharias that he and his wife will have a son, John the Baptist, despite his wife’s age. The angel isn’t depicted in the painting, but the light shining in Zacharias’ face shows his surprise.
Rembrandt was 27 when he painted the piece. At the time, he was mostly painting portraits, which brought in a lot of money for the artist, so the depiction is a departure.
The painting is typical of Rembrandt in his early career, Dibbits said.
“It’s very high quality. Sometimes with Rembrandt’s portraits, you feel that he’s producing in quantity, but with this painting, you really feel that he dedicated his soul to it.”
Dibbits said Rembrandt painted the image just after he moved from Leiden to Amsterdam.
“It’s wonderful that people can now learn more about the young Rembrandt. … It is a beautiful example of the unique way Rembrandt depicts stories,” Dibbits said.
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