Rembrandt, Simeon's Song of Praise, 1631

Rembrandt made this work in 1631. At the time he was only 25 years old and still living in Leiden. He moved to Amsterdam shortly after, becoming one of the city’s leading painters.

This early work is still fairly smoothly painted. During its restoration it emerged that Rembrandt often used the same techniques as in his later, much more rough-looking paintings.

Details of restoration

Detail during the removal of the varnish	He often continued painting in the still wet paint	He scratched in the paint

Result
The discoloured varnish was removed during the restoration. The original colours are now visible again.

After restoration