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300 YEAR OLD REMBRANDT WAS HIDING IN
PLAIN VIEW
By Tristan Baker
The Dutch painter Rembrandt continues to provide the world with fresh paintings, despite the handicap of being dead for over 300 years.
The painting, a self-portrait of Rembrandt, isn’t exactly new. It was painted in 1634. One of Rembrandt’s pupils apparently painted over it soon after it was completed.
Susan Kuretsky, an art history professor at Vassar College, was not surprised to hear that a new Rembrandt had been discovered.
“This does happen from time to time,” said Kuretsky, “An early Rembrandt once turned up in the attic of a little old lady.”
Kuretsky said that around 90 percent of the time, these newly discovered paintings turn out to be fakes. However, because the painting was examined by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, and because it is being auctioned off at Sotheby’s in London, she believes it is genuine.
The layers of overpaint protected Rembrandts original work remarkably well; the paint underneath has aged very little in 300 years.
Rembrandt probably let his pupil paint over his self-portrait because it wasn’t selling very well, which is ironic considering it is now expected to fetch upwards of 8 million dollars in an upcoming Sotheby’s auction. The painting is the last known privately owned Rembrandt self-portrait, and the first to be auctioned off in over 30 years.
The existence of the original painting was verified through the use of X-rays and infrared light. An art professor at Marist College who wished to remain anonymous explained that hundreds of years ago artists used oil paint containing lead. This lead reflects X-rays very well, allowing investigators to see through the layers of overpaint.
Rembrandt painted over 40 self portraits in his lifetime.