"An important piece of evidence that the painting is by Rembrandt lies in the changes he made during the painting process. For example, the censer on the altar was originally larger. Such adjustments are characteristic of an artist who is experimenting and refining his work. A copyist, by contrast, would have reproduced the model exactly, without making alterations."
"Experts and conservators at the Rijksmuseum spent two years investigating the pigments, structural materials, Rembrandt's signature and date, the overall style, and the choice of subject matter. Techniques included X-raying the paint and conducting dendrochronology tests on the wooden panels to get a sense of age."
A 1633 oil painting titled "Vision of Zacharias in the Temple" was exhibited as a Rembrandt work in 1898 but was deauthenticated in 1960. A private collector purchased it in 1961, and it remained hidden until the Rijksmuseum recently gained access for reassessment. Over two years, experts conducted extensive technical investigations including X-ray analysis, dendrochronology testing on wooden panels, and macro scans. The research revealed evidence supporting Rembrandt's authorship, particularly through visible alterations made during the painting process, such as the originally larger censer on the altar. These adjustments demonstrate an artist experimenting and refining work, distinguishing it from copyist reproductions. The painting depicts the high priest Zacharias awaiting the archangel Gabriel's announcement of his son's birth.
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