Rembrandt's smallest portraits on long-term loan at Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam has put on display the smallest portraits ever painted by Rembrandt, depicting Jan Willemsz van der Pluym and Jaapgen Caerlsdr. The works, dated 1635, have been lent long-term by the Holterman family. They disappeared for nearly two centuries and resurfaced only two years ago. After extensive research, the museum confirmed their attribution to Rembrandt. The portraits are significant not only for their unprecedented size but also because the sitters were relatives of the artist: their son Dominicus married Cornelia Cornelisdr van Suytbroek, Rembrandt's cousin, in 1624. The smaller versions were sold at the same 1760 auction as larger copies identified by archivist Isabel van Eeghen in 1977, likely by a relative of the couple. Research revealed Jaapgen was born in 1565 and Jan between 1565 and 1566, making them 70 and 69 years old respectively when painted, matching inscriptions on the works. The Rijksmuseum noted that Rembrandt was the most sought-after portraitist of his time when he created these oval paintings. The dynamic, sketchy style and small format suggest the works were a favor for family. Technical analysis confirmed the free brushwork, construction methods, and pigments (lead white, lead-tin yellow, bone black, vermilion, red lake) are consistent with Rembrandt's practice from 1634 onward. The same iron-containing brown paint was used for inscriptions, signature, and date on Jan's portrait.