The Mauritius museum in The Hague said three paintings in its collection that were attributed to Rembrandt were, in fact, merely copies done in the Dutch artist’s style.
The copies are Portrait of Rembrandt with a Gorget (ca. 1629), Study of an Old Man (ca. 1655–60) and ‘Tronie’ of an Old Man (ca. 1630), according to a statement from the museum released on April 17.
The museum has 11 pieces currently attributed to Rembrandt, including the famed Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp (1632). The museum also has artworks that were purchased as Rembrandts, but have since been written off or had their authenticity questioned. There are now seven of these works, and they include Portrait of Rembrandt with a Gorget, Study of an Old Man and ‘Tronie’ of an Old Man, which were reexamined and restored.
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Portrait of Rembrandt with a Gorget was first discovered to be a copy of an early self-portrait by Rembrandt in 1999. The Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nuremberg, Germany, owns the genuine Rembrandt. Experts are still unsure of who painted the painting, which was acquired by Stadtholder William V in 1768.
Study of an Old Man was purchased by the museum in 1891. After being restored and examined, the signature “Rembrandt f” was found to be “almost certainly genuine,” but the image was by one of the artist’s employees.
“In paintings by Rembrandt, every brushstroke is just right, but that is not the case here,” the museum wrote. “The work appears ‘awkward’, as if a student had done their best to imitate the master. The eyes are patchy, and the nose is not clearly defined. In the lower layers, there are thick lines along the man’s chin, a correction in the painting process. It may have been Rembrandt himself correcting the work of his student.”
Abraham Bredius, director of the Mauritshuis, bought ‘Tronie’ of an Old Man for his own collection in 1892. However, Bredius loaned it to the museum, where it was displayed.
While it was previously attributed to Rembrandt, experts had doubts. New research showed the panel was “highly likely” painted at the artist’s studio, and an X-ray showed that the painter of the image made changes during the painting process, something that did not occur with copies. While there are elements of Rembrandt’s work, the background of ‘Tronie’ of an Old Man was overpainted with paint the artist did not use during this period.
Ultimately, the museum’s experts said ‘Tronie’ of an Old Man could have been painted by a student or employee of Rembrandt, or by the master himself.
The museum’s research is now part of the new exhibit “Rembrandt?,” on display until July 13.