Researchers at the Rijksmuseum have identified a painting as the work of Rembrandt van Rijn. Analysis of the wood panel, the style, the changes in detail made while the work was painted, the signature applied while the painting was wet, and the overall high quality confirm that this was an autographed work by Rembrandt himself, when he was 27 years old and had just moved to Amsterdam.
Zechariah’s vision in the temple (1633) Luke’s Gospel is a moody depiction of the account of the high priest Zacharias learning his “barren” old wife Elizabeth would bear a son, the future John the Baptist. The announcing angel, Gabriel, is not visible in the painting. It is represented only as a flash of light in the upper right corner of the panel, a 
At a time when angels were usually depicted as winged beings. Zechariah, caught in the act of his temple duties—reading scripture in front of a smoker burning incense—was caught very unaware of the announcement. His expression shows his surprise and disbelief, an attitude that plays a large role in the rest of the story when Gabriel strikes him dumb for his disbelief and he remains silent throughout the conception and nine months of pregnancy, only regaining the ability to speak after he writes that he agrees with Elizabeth that their newborn son should be named.
An 1898 label on the back of the panel notes that it was exhibited as an authentic Rembrandt in September and October of that year. Decades later in the 1960s, Rembrandt experts rejected this attribution and the work fell into obscurity. It was bought by a private collector in 1961 and was not allowed to be studied by a scholar until two years ago when the current owner approached the Rijksmuseum.
For the first time in 65 years, Zechariah’s vision in the temple A rigorous test was given, this time with advanced imaging technology and, most importantly, with much more depth about Rembrandt’s techniques and materials, thanks to Operation Nightwatch, the museum’s ambitious research and conservation project.
This two-year study revealed that for all paints used Zechariah’s vision in the temple Others from the same period are found in works by Rembrandt van Rijn. The painting technique and the construction of paint layers are also comparable to Rembrandt’s other early works. Macro-XRF scans and visual inspection additionally revealed structural changes that support the authenticity of the work. Research of the signature shows that it is the original, and dendrochronological analysis of the wood panel confirms that the 1633 date on the painting is correct.
The painting is now on long-term loan to the Rijksmuseum and will go on public display on March 4.
