British scientists have confirmed that a 17th century painting of the famous Dutch artist Rembrandt is in fact a self-portrait, Fox News reported Tuesday. The painting is worth an estimated $50 million.
For nearly half a century, no one knew for sure if Rembrandt actually completed the painting, which features the painter seated with a long-feathered hat. Experts thought the painting could not be an original because of its deviation from Rembrandt's traditional painting style.
As a result, the general belief was that the painting, completed in 1635, was the work of one of Rembrandt's students, Fox News reported.
But one specialist, however, believed the painting was an original. It was on behalf of specialist Dr. Ernst van de Watering that Britain's National Trust sent the painting to be examined last year.
Scientists started the examination by removing layers of varnish, applied after painting for protection, to better view the artist's signature.
"The signature and date of 1635, inscribed both on the front and back of the panel, had been considered problematic in the previous assessments as it was thought that the style and composition was much more akin to [Rembrandt's] style slightly later in his career," Christine Slottvedd Kimbriel, from the Hamilton Kerr Institute, said according to Fox News.
"But the cross-section analysis left no reason to doubt that the inscription was added at the time of executing of the painting."
Researchers also noticed that Rembrandt made alterations to the figure in the painting that were "carried out at a late stage and without much care to perfectly match the surrounding paint," Kimbriel said.
"Such alterations are present in many of Rembrandt's own works, suggesting a dynamic process of painting typical of Rembrandt."
Born in the Netherlands in 1606, Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn is best known for works including "The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Tulp," "Return of the Prodigal Son" as well as over 90 self-portraits, according to a Rembrandt website. But despite his success as an artist he had a tragic personal life, having outlived two wives and four children. He died in 1669.
