THE HAGUE – After nearly 200 years in a personal assortment, a couple of small portraits by way of 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 art work, believed to be the ultimate recognized pair of privately held Rembrandt portraits, were bought at public sale this yr and given on long-term mortgage by way of the circle of relatives 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 observation.
The museum mentioned that based totally on their small measurement and “dynamic, sketchy style,” the portraits most probably were painted by way of Rembrandt as a choose to the couple, who had shut hyperlinks to his circle of relatives 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 at the museum worked to establish that Rembrandt painted the portraits, which measure about 20×16.5 centimeters (8×6 inches), using high-tech scans and paint analysis.
“When taken together, the various research results amount to compelling evidence,” the museum said.
The portraits were hung along different works by way of Rembrandt.