A long-lost painting by Rembrandt has been authenticated by experts at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, decades after it vanished from the public record, per bbc.com.
The work, Vision of Zacharias in the Temple (1633), was struck from the official list of the Dutch master’s works in 1960. It disappeared into a private collection a year later, remaining in obscurity until its owners contacted the museum via email.
Following a rigorous two-year technical examination, the Rijksmuseum confirmed the piece is genuine. Researchers analysed the original 17th-century wooden panel, the specific pigments used, and Rembrandt’s signature style of layered paint application.
“When I saw it in our studio, I was immediately struck by the incredible power it has,” said Rijksmuseum director Taco Dibbits. “With this painting, you really feel that he dedicated his soul to it.”
Painted when Rembrandt was just 27, the work depicts the biblical moment the priest Zacharias is told he will father John the Baptist. While traditional artists of the era typically included the Archangel Gabriel in such scenes, Rembrandt chose a more innovative path, suggesting the angel’s presence through light and atmosphere rather than a physical figure.
While the museum has not provided a formal valuation, Rembrandt’s works regularly command astronomical prices. The current auction record stands at £20m, with a self-portrait fetching £12.6m as recently as 2020.
The rediscovered masterpiece will go on public display at the Rijksmuseum this Wednesday, marking its first appearance in a gallery for over six decades.
•Featured image: Vision of Zacharias in the Temple (1633) courtesy of Kelly Schenk, Rijksmuseum
