THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — After almost 200 years in a non-public assortment, a pair of small portraits by seventeenth century Dutch Master Rembrandt van Rijn went on show Wednesday after a long-term mortgage to the Netherlands’ nationwide artwork and historical past museum.
The Rijksmuseum mentioned the portraits of Jan Willemsz van der Pluym and his spouse Jaapgen “disappeared from view for almost two centuries, before resurfacing two years ago.”
The work, believed to be the final recognized pair of privately held Rembrandt portraits, had been bought at public sale this 12 months and given on long-term mortgage by the household of rich Dutch businessman Henry Holterman, the museum mentioned.
“Given my close relationship with the museum and the fact that the team of experts has been conducting research into these portraits over a period of years, I feel that these works belong in the museum,” Holterman mentioned in a press release.
The museum mentioned that based mostly on their small dimension and “dynamic, sketchy style,” the portraits seemingly had been painted by Rembrandt as a favor to the couple, who had shut hyperlinks to his household since Jan and Jaapgen’s son Dominicus married the painter’s cousin, Cornelia Cornelisdr van Suytbroek.
Rijksmuseum Director Taco Dibbits welcomed the mortgage and mentioned the portraits “will bring visitors closer to Rembrandt’s family circle.”
Researchers on the museum labored to ascertain that Rembrandt painted the portraits, which measure about 20×16.5 centimeters (8×6 inches), utilizing high-tech scans and paint evaluation.
“When taken together, the various research results amount to compelling evidence,” the museum mentioned.
The portraits had been hung alongside different works by Rembrandt.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”