The British government has temporarily blocked the permanent export of Rembrandt van Rijn’s Portrait of Catrina Hooghsaet (1657), valued at £71.7 million. The measure gives museums time to raise the funds needed to acquire the painting and retain it in the country.

The portrait, which has been in Britain since at least the mid-eighteenth century, is considered one of the outstanding works of Rembrandt’s later career. Its valuation makes it the most expensive object to have been designated a British national treasure.

A significant work by Rembrandt

The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest recommended the export ban after determining that the painting meets all three Waverley criteria. These assess an object’s connection with British history and national life, its outstanding aesthetic importance, and its significance for the study of art history.

In the case of Hooghsaet’s portrait, the committee highlighted its importance for understanding Rembrandt’s oeuvre and the history of portraiture, as well as Dutch society and the history of collecting Rembrandt in Britain.

The sitter, Catrina Hooghsaet (1607–1685), was a wealthy member of Amsterdam’s Mennonite community. She lived separately from her husband, an unusual arrangement at the time. Her unusually well-documented life provides valuable context for studying the portrait and offers insights into social relations, gender, religion, and identity in the Dutch Republic.

The painting belongs to a small group of large-scale, three-quarter-length portraits from Rembrandt’s later career. The committee praised its refined execution and the artist’s ability to convey the sitter’s individuality and psychological presence.

Opportunity to retain the painting in the UK

The export license decision has been deferred until 26 December 2026. During this period, potential UK purchasers can express their interest in acquiring the work for the recommended price of £71,696,324.90, plus VAT. If an eligible offer is made, the owners will have fifteen business days to consider it, followed by a possible further nine-month deferral period. The temporary ban therefore provides a limited opportunity for a UK institution or benefactor to secure one of Rembrandt’s significant late portraits for the country and keep it accessible to the public.