Rembrandt self-portrait returns to Gotha 80 years after illegal removal
A Rembrandt self-portrait titled 'Youthful Self-portrait' (1629), which was unlawfully taken from Gotha, Germany in 1946, is set to return on loan from Munich's Alte Pinakothek for an exhibition at the Ducal Museum in Schloss Friedenstein. The exhibit, 'Rembrandt 1632: The Creation of a Brand' (5 September–6 December), showcases 11 paintings by Rembrandt, with the self-portrait featured prominently. Originally acquired by Duke Ernst II in 1803, it was displayed at Schloss Friedenstein starting in 1842. After being smuggled to Coburg in 1946, it was sold in 1954 to the Bavarian State Painting Collections for DM75,000. Mayor Knut Kreuch of Gotha arranged the loan, marking the painting's return to its original palace after 80 years.
Key facts
- Rembrandt self-portrait returns to Gotha on loan from Munich's Alte Pinakothek.
- Painting illegally removed from Gotha in 1946.
- Exhibition 'Rembrandt 1632: The Creation of a Brand' runs 5 September–6 December at Ducal Museum.
- Self-portrait depicts Rembrandt at age 24.
- Acquired by Duke Ernst II by 1803, hung in Schloss Friedenstein from 1842.
- Smuggled to Coburg in 1946, sold to Bavarian State Painting Collections in 1954 for DM75,000.
- Loan initiated by Gotha's mayor Knut Kreuch and Bavaria's minister-president Markus Söder.
- First time in 80 years painting displayed in Schloss Friedenstein.
Entities
Artists
Institutions
- Herzogliches Museum
- Schloss Friedenstein
- Alte Pinakothek
- Bavarian State Painting Collections
- Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha's Foundation for Art and Science
- Friedenstein Gotha Foundation
- Rijksmuseum
Locations
- Gotha
- Germany
- Munich
- Schloss Reinhardsbrunn
- Coburg
- Amsterdam
- Netherlands