Newly Rediscovered Rembrandt is Authentic, Says Dutch Museum

A painting by Rembrandt Van Rijn that was thought to have been lost for more than 50 years has been rediscovered and authenticated, according to researchers at the Rijksmuseum.

During a two-year study a team at the Dutch museum analysed the materials, style and theme of Vision of Zacharias In The Temple (1653), concluding that it is a genuine work by the painter. The work is currently on long-term loan to the Rijksmuseum from a private collector, and will be on view to the public from 5 March.

In a statement, the director of the Rijksmuseum, Taco Dibbits, reflected on the significance of unearthing a work from this early period in the artist’s career. He said: “It’s wonderful that people can now learn more about the young Rembrandt – he created this very poignant work shortly after moving from Leiden to Amsterdam. It is a beautiful example of the unique way Rembrandt depicts stories.”

Vision of Zacharias In The Temple (1653) was first recorded in 1961, but was initially excluded from Rembrandt’s oeuvre after significant concerns about its authenticity were raised by scholars. It disappeared from public view until its current owner requested its authorship be reexamined by the museum.

The painting depicts a scene from the old-testament, in which Zacharias, a high priest, receives the Archangel Gabriel. Thematically, it fits alongside Rembrandt’s trends of the 1650s, in works such as Daniel and Cyrus Before the Idol Bel (1653) and Simeon’s Song of Praise (1631). 

In 2019, the Rijksmuseum undertook the biggest and most wide-ranging study of Rembrandt’s most famous painting to date. Modern scanning techniques used in Operation Night Watch were also employed in this latest study and, when compared with other paintings of the same period, confirmed to researchers that the work is by the Dutch master.