Rembrandt's Lost Masterpiece? The Mystery of 'Old Man with a Gold Chain'

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

There's something utterly captivating about art's ability to keep secrets. Take, for instance, the recent revelation about two nearly identical portraits of an Old Man with a Gold Chain. For decades, one was hailed as a Rembrandt masterpiece, while the other was dismissed as a mere workshop copy. But now, a leading scholar has flipped the script, arguing that both were, in fact, painted by the Dutch master himself.

Why it matters

This story isn't just about correcting the record—it's about challenging how we perceive artistic genius and the very nature of creativity. The fact that Rembrandt may have created replicas of his own works forces us to reevaluate our assumptions about originality and the role of the artist.

The details

The Chicago version, painted on panel, has long been the star of the show. Meanwhile, the slightly smaller canvas version, owned by Sir Francis Newman, was relegated to the sidelines as a mere imitation. Yet, Rembrandt scholar Gary Schwartz argues that both works bear the hallmarks of the master's hand. X-ray and infrared imaging revealed subtle differences between the two paintings, suggesting Rembrandt's own adjustments. The consistency in the UK version's canvas, pigments, and ground layer also points to Rembrandt's involvement.

• For decades, one painting was hailed as a Rembrandt masterpiece, while the other was dismissed as a copy.
• Recently, a leading scholar argued that both paintings were, in fact, created by Rembrandt himself.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Art Institute of Chicago initially leaned toward the UK version being a workshop copy, but the new evidence has challenged this view. The authentication of the paintings is still ongoing, and the final determination could have significant implications for our understanding of Rembrandt's artistic process.