Pupil's painting now attributed to Rembrandt

An artwork long believed painted by a student of Rembrandt's is actually by the Dutch master himself, a museum in Rotterdam has announced.

The Boijmans van Beuningen Museum announced the discovery about the work Tobias and His Wife on Wednesday andbeginsa month-long exhibit of the painting on Thursday.

Previously attributed to Rembrandt's pupil Barent Fabricius, the painting owned by the Willem van der Vorm Foundation and on long-term loan to the Roijmans van Beuningen Museum since 1972 had previously been on display in one of the facility's reception rooms.

A Rembrandt expert and professor, Ernst van de Wetering, made his pronouncement recently after a new study into the oil-on-panel artwork. According to van de Wetering, the work is "undoubtedly by Rembrandt" based on several arguments, the museum said in a statement.

He cited the painting's similarities to the artist's 1659 etching Saint Peter and Saint John Healing the Cripple at the Gate of the Temple. He also noted details similar to other Rembrandt work created in the 1640s and figure placement, perspective and other elements characteristic of Rembrandt's oeuvre.

After a thorough examination, the expert teamalso discovered that Tobias and His Wife which depicts a domestic scene of a couple sitting by an open hearth was painted over another still life.

Since the discovery, the painting has been revalued ateight millioneuros(about $11.2 million Cdn), up from its previous valuation of 80,000 euros(about $112,000 Cdn). Because of the new attribution, the museum now counts four of Rembrandt's paintings and 36 of his drawings in its collection.

Tobias and His Wife will continue on display at the Rotterdam museum for one month. It will then undergo restoration in advance of a loan to Japan for an exhibition.