Early self-portrait "Rembrandt Laughing" Attributed great master of just a few years ago, in a private transaction acquired Getty Museum. The British offer to buy out the work for 16.5 million pounds

REMBRANDT Rembrandt Laughing. Around 1628
Oil on copper. 24 x 17
Source: latimes.com

Self-portrait "Rembrandt Laughing", written by 22-year-old artist on copper, are trying to save from the export to the United States. This was stated by Minister of Culture of the United Kingdom Ed Weisz. In order to keep the most valuable work in the country, it is necessary to collect 16.5 million pounds. Otherwise, go into a self-portrait collection of the Los Angeles Getty Museum, who bought this work in a London gallery (presumably in Hazlitt, Gooden & Fox).

Portrait of a laughing man appeared on the small provincial auction in Cirencester (Gloucestershire) in 2007. Experts of the auction house did not recognize at first hand the work of Rembrandt and appreciated small (only 24 x 17 cm) portrait on copper of 1,500 pounds. Collectors, however, guessed the true authorship, and so traded up to 2.2 million pounds. Subsequent examination conducted by a leading expert on Rembrandt, Ernst van de Wetering (Ernst van de Wetering), confirmed these conjectures. In the 23-page report Wetering have the appropriate Rembrandt style of writing, drawing contours, the composition of paints, as well as the distinctive monogram. There are only a few works by Rembrandt copper. In addition, it is the only self-portrait in which the artist portrayed himself laughing, not sad and thoughtful. Therefore extremely important work is undeniable. It remains to find out whether there will be a worthy contender for a portrait in the British Isles. He had to think for a few months: a ban on exports will be valid until 15 October 2013.

Prepared by Mary Onuchina, AI

Sources : bbc.co.uk , latimes.com , artinvestment.ru