Rembrandt self-portrait uncovered

Art restorers have uncovered a self-portrait of Rembrandt which had been retouched hundreds of years ago to [depict] a Russian nobleman. . .

Layers and layers of paint were painstakingly scraped away to reveal the original picture of the Dutch master, complete with the round chin and gentle eyes common to other self-studies.

The painting was first done in 1634 when Rembrandt was 28 yearsold, according to the Rembrandt House museum in Amsterdam where the work is now on show temporarily. . .

It was unclear how much the wood-panel painting, 70.8 by 55.2 centimetres (44.3 by 34.5 inches), was worth, but recent Rembrandts on the market had price tags of more than $30m.

Posted by David on January 31, 2003 9:48 AM