2003: Rembrandt
These two images show the layers of history that were unravelled thanks to a combination of the expert eye, and the use the latest tools of scientific analysis. In this case, a striking self-portrait by Rembrandt (one of only three remaining in private hands) was discovered under layers of overpaint, where it had remained hidden for 300 years. George Gordon, from Sotheby's Old Master Paintings department, remembers first seeing the painting: "What struck us was the quality of the painting in the area of the sitter's lower face... This area stood out in a way that strongly suggested it was the work of a superior hand...". Soon after the picture was examined with x-rays and infra-red photography, and the pigments were analysed, confirming not only that the underlying painting was by Rembrandt, but also casting a new light on working practices in his studio. Today, Sotheby's is the only auction house to have brought this kind of scientific analytical capability in-house, having acquired Orion Analytical in 2016, whose founder, Jamie Martin, now runs Sotheby's Department of Scientific Research.
