CSI Rembrandt: Museum sleuths show painting is a Rembrandt
Last edited Tue Jun 9, 2015, 09:50 AM - Edit history (1)
Source: AP
By MIKE CORDER
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — After a CSI-style investigation and restoration spanning eight years, the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague has declared that one of its star paintings really is by Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn.
The announcement should end years of is-it-or-isn't-it debate about whether "Saul and David" was a real Rembrandt.
Researchers used advanced X-ray techniques to peer through several coats of paint that had been applied during previous restorations and establish that the original pigments were the same as those Rembrandt used in the 17th century. Paint sampling showed that the primer used was typical of Rembrandt's studio in the 1650s and 1660s.
For decades, there was no question. A former director of the museum in The Hague, Abraham Bredius, bought the painting more than a century ago, but in the late 1960s Rembrandt expert Horst Gerson cast doubt on who actually painted the Biblical scene of King Saul using a curtain to dab a tear from his eye while David, kneeling below the king, plucks the strings of a harp.
FULL story at link.
This photo provided Tuesday, June 9, 2015 by Mauritshuis shows Rembrandt's "Saul and David" after restororation. After a CSI-style investigation, the Mauritshuis museum has declared on Tuesday that one of the stars of its collection really is by Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn. Researchers used advanced X-Ray techniques to peer through several coats of paint that had been applied during previous restorations of "Saul and David" and establish that the original pigments were the same as those Rembrandt used in the 17th Century. (Margareta Svensson/Mauritshuis via AP)
Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/24af1fbc8219489f8d7fa88cffa3ec16/csi-rembrandt-museum-sleuths-show-painting-rembrandt
Also see these similar DU stories from last April: Joslyn Art Museum discovers that it had Rembrandt original in storage: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014773408
REMBRANDT REBORN (goes on view tomorrow Monday 5-5-14): http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024907270
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the surface like prior sketches and arrangements which were common. For example, examination of the large Rose Period masterpiece by Picasso, 'The Family of Saltimbanques', 1905 at NGA revealed several different compositions with similar figures beneath the final version. But dating technology for paints and canvas hasn't come along until later; I need to look into that.
I never got to Amsterdam, my sister and mom who are both artists loved it, same for Venice. Hope to see them some day. PBS ran some Rick Steves programs recently, the one on A. was lovely. I know you've been. Someday...
been able to travel much lately because of a crazy work schedule. I've only seen Florence but art colleagues/friends have taken Tuscan trips to small villages and towns for the art of Piero and others. One woman started walking several months in advance to get in shape! b/c she knew how much activity would be involved.
Another friend who is with SAM, the Seattle Art Museum attended an extended program at Bernard Berenson's Villa I Tatti which operates the Harvard Center for Renaissance Studies. During her stay of 3-4 weeks they went around to many of the small towns to see the art and she loved it. Said it was a real workout but worth it.
Villa I Tatti, Florence
