Painting found in Sir Francis Drake’s home confirmed as Rembrandt

A painting hanging in the former home of Sir Francis Drake has been confirmed as a self-portrait by the Dutch Master Rembrandt, the National Trust has announced.

For decades the picture, which has been at Buckland Abbey in Devon since it was given to the trust in 2010, was thought to have been a portrait produced by one of Rembrandt’s pupils.

But years of studying the 17th century artist’s style and a new investigation of the painting by the world’s leading Rembrandt expert Ernst van de Wetering has reattributed the painting as a work by the Dutch Master himself.

The painting, which was kept in storage for the first 18 months it was at Buckland Abbey as there was nowhere to hang it, is now one of the National Trust’s most important.

It has been given a value of £20 million although, as the trust holds items on behalf of the nation forever, the organisation said it can never be sold.

The self-portrait showing Rembrandt aged 29, “signed” by the Dutch Master and dated 1635, previously belonged to the Princes of Liechtenstein. Its provenance had been shrouded in mystery for 40 years.