Forgotten for decades by its owner, a new painting by Rembrandt discovered at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam

A superb discovery. A new painting by Dutch master Rembrandt, entitled “Vision of Zechariah in the Temple”, was discovered by researchers at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the museum announced on Monday. Thanks to advanced techniques, already used during the large-scale restoration of the painting “The Night Watch”, also called “The Night Watch”, by Rembrandt, museum researchers managed to authenticate the work painted in 1633, which comes from a private collection.

“Analysis of the materials, stylistic and thematic similarities, modifications made by Rembrandt and the overall quality of the painting support the conclusion that this painting is an authentic work by Rembrandt van Rijn,” the museum said in a statement. “We always hope to find a new Rembrandt, but that rarely happens,” Taco Dibbits, director of the Rijksmuseum, told AFP.

The owner sent an email to the museum

Until 1960, the painting was excluded from Rembrandt’s oeuvre, but after several decades of oblivion its current owner contacted the museum. “It was incredible that this painting, which we didn’t know existed, was sent to us by someone who emailed us asking if it was a Dutch painting, without really knowing what they had in their hands,” he continued.

After two years of careful study including an analysis of the oak on which the work was painted, the color and thickness of the paint, the researchers concluded that the paints used in “Vision of Zechariah in the Temple” were also present in contemporary works by the master of chiaroscuro.

“The way the painting was constructed, with these different layers, was typical of Rembrandt. It’s a dark painting and (…) Rembrandt, of course, plays a lot on the contrast between light and darkness,” Jonathan Bikker, curator at the Rijksmuseum, explained to AFP.

“The light shines on this work”

The painting depicts the high priest Zechariah, a biblical character, in relative darkness, his outlines and golden adornments illuminated by light coming from the upper right corner of the painting, representing the arrival of the archangel Gabriel. “The idea is that the light shines on this work, and (…) all these golden touches that sparkle when the light shines on them,” describes Mr. Bikker.

According to Petria Noble, a researcher specializing in Rembrandt’s paintings, the work is in perfect harmony with the painter’s work at the same time, when he was 27 years old. “The year 1633 marks the beginning of Rembrandt’s career in Amsterdam and he became very interested in biblical stories and history books,” she explains to AFP.

“So everything fit together perfectly in terms of material and style,” concludes the researcher, who described this discovery as a “wonderful experience”. The work will be on public display from March 4 and will be on long-term loan to the Rijksmuseum.