Rendering 2

The article published on the website of “Foxnews” on January 28, 2013 is headlined “Nearly 400-year-old secret painting in Rembrandt masterpiece revealed”

The author of this article is Megan Gannon. He reports us about the masterpiece, "Old Man in Military Costume" which was painted by Dutch painter Rembrant Harmenszoon van Rijn. Scientists had noticed the painting bears faint traces of another portrait beneath its surface. Researchers had previously probed the painting with infrared, neutron and conventional X-ray methods, but could not see the behind the top coat, largely because Rembrandt used the same paint (with the same chemical composition) for the underpainting and the final version.

The author notes that new studies with more sophisticated X-ray techniques that can parse through the painting's layers give art historians hope that they may finally get to see who is depicted in the secret image.

The author gives us opinions of different scientists according the situation. "Our experiments demonstrate a possibility of how to reveal much of the hidden picture," Matthias Alfeld from the University of Antwerp said in a statement. "Compared to other techniques, the X-ray investigation we tested is currently the best method to look underneath the original painting."

The article draws conclusion that this isn't the first time scientists have delved into Rembrandt's paintings. Previous research revealed why his art possesses such calming beauty, finding the artist may have pioneered a technique that guides the viewer's gaze around a portrait, creating a special narrative and "calmer" viewing experience.

As for me, I think that Rembrandt is one of the greatest painters and printmakers in European art history and the most important in Dutch history. His contributions to art came in a period of great wealth and cultural achievement that historians call the Dutch Golden Age when Dutch Golden Age painting, although in many ways antithetical to the Baroque style that dominated Europe, was extremely prolific and innovative. He is one of my favorite painters. This article impressed me greatly, because I did not know such information about this unique picture before.