The Mauritshuis is organizing a symposium for art historians and conservators on question marks surrounding Rembrandt and his oeuvre on the 16 May 2025, this will focus on (material-technical) research of and attribution issues surrounding Rembrandt’s oeuvre.

This afternoon will also mark the departure of Mauritshuis conservator Carol Pottasch, who will retire after 35 years at the Mauritshuis. The day will be concluded with farewell drinks for Carol.

Mauritshuis conservator Carol Pottasch working on Rembrandt’s (?) Study of an Old Man (1650).

The Mauritshuis holds one of the most important collections of Rembrandt paintings in the world. Eleven of these are among the best within Rembrandt’s oeuvre, such as The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp from 1632. The Mauritshuis also owns another seven works that, although once acquired as a Rembrandt, have since been rejected or have had their attribution questioned.

Following the exhibition Rembrandt and the Mauritshuis in the Rembrandt Year 2019, it was decided to restore and further investigate three of those doubted paintings, and thus the project Rembrandt…? was initiated.

Rembrandt van Rijn (?), ‘Tronie’ of an Old Man, 1630-31
Mauritshuis, The Hague

This project has now been completed. The results of the research and restoration of these three paintings – Study of an old man (inv. 560), Tronie of an old man (inv. 565) and Portrait of Rembrandt (1606-1669) with a gorget (inv. 148) – will be on display in a presentation at the Mauritshuis from 15 April onwards.

The symposium will be held in English. Speakers include Carol Pottasch, Sabrina Meloni, Abbie Vandivere, Annelies van Loon, Jørgen Wadum, Petria Noble, Ariane van Suchtelen, Susan Smelt, David Dewitt and Volker Manuth who will deliver the keynote.

The full program will be available at a later date.

Information and tickets (€25) are available on the Mauritshuis website.