Authenticity Verified: Rembrandt Painting Replicated in a Pennsylvania Museum Proven Genuine, Potentially Valued at Millions
The "Portrait of a Young Woman," a painting believed to be an original work by the renowned artist Rembrandt van Rijn, has been at the centre of a significant authenticity dispute since its donation to the Allentown Art Museum in Pennsylvania in 1961.
The painting was generously donated to the museum by the Kress Foundation, an organisation known for its philanthropic contributions to the arts, including the donation of valuable artworks to museums across the United States. The Kress Foundation continues to oversee the conservation of these donated pieces, offering their services free of charge to the institutions that own them.
However, in the late 1970s, experts concluded that the "Portrait of a Young Woman" was a forgery, likely the work of one of Rembrandt's assistants or students. This declaration cast doubt over the painting's provenance, and it was credited under "Studio of Rembrandt."
Nonetheless, recent expert analysis and research have led to the painting's re-authentication as an authentic Rembrandt work. Advanced tools such as infrared reflectography and scanning electron microscopy were used to confirm the painting's creator. After being sent for conservation and cleaning at New York University, the painting's brushstrokes were found to be extremely consistent with Rembrandt's handwork.
Outside experts also examined the painting and agreed that it was an authentic Rembrandt. Elaine Mehalakes, the museum's vice president of curatorial affairs, stated that the painting now has a weight brought to it in terms of scholarly attention.
Rembrandt, known for his emotional depth and human imperfections in his portraits, sometimes complicated attribution given his distinct style compared to his contemporaries. This changing perception of Rembrandt's style may have influenced previous doubts about paintings like the "Portrait of a Young Woman."
The authenticated Rembrandt painting will be part of an exhibition this coming summer at the Allentown Art Museum. It serves as a notable example of how artworks once doubted can, after rigorous re-examination, regain their status in the oeuvre of great masters like Rembrandt.
It is important to note that mistaken attributions do happen in the art world occasionally, not just with Rembrandt paintings. Last year, a woman in France learned that a "fake" Renaissance painting hanging above her stove was actually a 700-year-old masterpiece.
[1] Allentown Art Museum. (2021). Portrait of a Young Woman. [online] Available at: https://www.allentownartmuseum.org/collections/portrait-of-a-young-woman
[2] The Art Newspaper. (2021). Rembrandt painting at Allentown Art Museum re-authenticated. [online] Available at: https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/rembrandt-painting-at-allentown-art-museum-re-authenticated
[3] The Metropolitan Museum of Art. (2021). Rembrandt. [online] Available at: https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/remb/hd_remb.htm
[1] The re-authentication of the "Portrait of a Young Woman" as an authentic Rembrandt work has opened up intriguing opportunities for the intersection of art and science, with technological advancements in art analysis playing a crucial role.
[2] In light of the ongoing advancements in artificial-intelligence and its potential applications in various fields, including the science of art history, it is plausible that AI could someday help unravel the mysteries of art provenance and authentication on a broader scale.
