Rendering №1

The editorial published on January, 23 is headlined “Nearly 400-year-old secret painting in Rembrandt masterpiece revealed”. It begins with the author’s statement that scientists may be one step closer to revealing a hidden portrait behind a 380-year-old Rembrandt painting.

The article discusses the situation around the masterpiece, "Old Man in Military Costume" by Dutch painter Rembrant Harmenszoon van Rijn. It denounces the actions of scientists who had noticed the painting bears faint traces of another portrait beneath its surface. Analyzing the situation, it’s interesting to point out that 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. It is also necessary to emphasize 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 reporter quotes Matthias Alfeld from the University of Antwerp: “Our experiments demonstrate a possibility of how to reveal much of the hidden picture. Compared to other techniques, the X-ray investigation we tested is currently the best method to look underneath the original painting.” There is a lot of comment on Alfeld and an international team used macro X-ray fluorescence analysis to examine a mock-up of Rembrandt's original, created by museum intern Andrea Sartorius, who used paints with the same chemical composition as those used by the Dutch master. Besides, there is general feeling to believe that the scientists targeted four elements of the paint to fluoresce, including calcium, iron, mercury and lead, and got much better impressions of the hidden painting in the mock-up than they were able to before. Giving appraisal to it, we should take into account Karen Trentelman’s statement, of the Getty Conservation Institute: “The successful completion of these preliminary investigations on the mock-up painting was an important first step. The results of these studies will enable us determine the best possible approach to employ in our planned upcoming study of the real Rembrandt painting.” The wtiter concludes the article with flash backs on this issue - 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. The correspondent comes to conclusion that the researchers found Rembrandt painted more detail in and around the eyes of his subjects, tapping into an innate human attraction to the face.

As for me, it was rather interesting to read this article and learn more about Rembrandt’s works and art on the whole. I don’t know much about those matters but I like the fact that the picture may have more than one meaning , thus becoming more attractive and worth seeing . Such kind of works, without doubt, makes us think and try to ligt the veil of secrecy and I am sure that such tendency will continue for the future generation, thus being not only the object of art but also food for thought.