Dutch museum makes 'needle in a haystack' confirmation of Rembrandt painting

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A painting that was once rejected as a work by Rembrandt van Rijn has now been acknowledged as a work by the Dutch master, thanks to two years of scrutiny in the city where the then-27-year-old artist painted it in 1633, a museum announced Monday.

The Netherlands' national art and history museum, the Rijksmuseum, unveiled the work, “Vision of Zacharias in the Temple,” and said painstaking analysis including high-tech scans has confirmed it was painted by Rembrandt after he moved to the capital, Amsterdam.

The painting hasn't been on public display in decades after being bought by a private collector in 1961, a year after it was deemed not to be a Rembrandt, the museum said in a statement. From Wednesday, will go on show among other masterpieces at the Rijksmusuem, where it is on long-term loan.

Director Taco Dibbits said the museum often gets emails from people asking if the painting they own might just be by the Golden Age master.

“We always hope to find a new Rembrandt, but this happens rarely," he told The Associated Press. He said making such a discovery “is just like (finding) a needle in a haystack.”

The owner, who has remained anonymous, initially asked the museum only if the painting was Dutch.

“He really didn’t know what he had. And then to discover that it’s a Rembrandt is something that’s amazing to experience,” Dibbits said.

The painting depicts a biblical story in which high priest Zacharias is visited by the Archangel Gabriel, who tells the priest that he and his wife will have a son: John the Baptist. Zacharias' surprised expression is highlighted by light heralding the arrival of Gabriel, the museum said.

An in-depth study of the work, including macro X-ray fluorescence scans and comparisons with other works by the artist, confirmed Rembrandt painted it, said the museum’s curator of 17th century Dutch paintings, Jonathan Bikker.

“So the wood that was used for the panel on which it’s painted, that is definitely from a tree that was cut down before 1633, the date on the painting,” he said.

"All the pigments, the paint in the painting were used by Rembrandt in other paintings. And the layers of paint and how he painted it, that is also precisely the same as in other works by Rembrandt,” he added.

The work joins about 350 known Rembrandt paintings and raised the hope that there may be more.

“We’re not actively looking for new paintings by Rembrandt, but I think this gives us hope — not just us, but everyone who’s interested in Rembrandt,” Bikker said.

The Rijksmuseum unveiled the work "Vision of Zacharias in the Temple" during a press preview in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Monday, March 2, 2026 and said two years of analysis has confirmed it was painted by Rembrandt. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Director Taco Dibbits of the Rijksmuseum unveiled the work "Vision of Zacharias in the Temple" during a press preview in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Monday, March 2, 2026 and said two years of analysis has confirmed it was painted by Rembrandt. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Director Taco Dibbits of the Rijksmuseum unveiled the work "Vision of Zacharias in the Temple" during a press preview in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Monday, March 2, 2026 and said two years of analysis has confirmed it was painted by Rembrandt. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Director Taco Dibbits of the Rijksmuseum unveiled the work "Vision of Zacharias in the Temple" during a press preview in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Monday, March 2, 2026 and said two years of analysis has confirmed it was painted by Rembrandt. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Director Taco Dibbits of the Rijksmuseum unveiled the work "Vision of Zacharias in the Temple" during a press preview in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Monday, March 2, 2026 and said two years of analysis has confirmed it was painted by Rembrandt. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The prime ministers of Japan and Australia agreed to deepen cooperation in a wide range of areas including energy security, defense and critical minerals as the Iran war threatens global supply chains.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met her Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese at Australia’s Parliament House on Monday during Takaichi's first visit to the country as national leader.

Takaichi said they held strategic discussions on China, Southeast Asia, Pacific Island countries, nuclear issues and abductions by North Korea.

“The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz had been inflicting enormous impact on the Indo-Pacific. We affirmed that Japan and Australia will closely communicate with each other in responding with a sense of urgency,” Takaichi told reporters through an interpreter.

Australia provides almost half of Japan’s liquefied natural gas. Japan is one of Australia’s top five suppliers of refined gasoline and diesel.

Albanese traveled to Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia in recent weeks to shore up supplies of gasoline and diesel following disruptions caused by attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel beginning in late February.

The bilateral agreements reached Monday would benefit the populations of Japan and Australia, Albanese said.

“For Australians, it will mean we are less vulnerable to global shocks like we are seeing right now because of conflict in the Middle East,” Albanese said.

“Our joint statement on energy security reaffirms our commitment to navigate the current energy crisis together and maintain open trade flows of essential energy goods including liquid fuels and gas," he said.

The statement on economic security cooperation commits to consulting on contingencies “including those related to geopolitical tensions, economic coercion or other significant market interruptions.”

The agreements also take aim at China’s control and manipulation of the global production of heavy rare earths, which are used for making powerful, heat-resistant magnets in industries such as defense and electric vehicles.

“We express our strong concerns over all forms of economic coercion, and the use of non-market policies and practices that are leading to harmful overcapacity and market distortions, as well as export restrictions, particularly on critical minerals,” the joint statement said.

The prime ministers “announce the elevation of critical minerals as a core pillar of our economic security relationship,” the statement said.

Australia would provide up to 1.3 billion Australian dollars ($930 million) to support critical minerals projects involving Japan.

The prime ministers also announced new steps to enhance Japan-Australia defense and security cooperation.

Takaichi’s visit comes two weeks after the Japanese and Australian defense ministers signed contracts to deliver the first three of a AU$10 billion ($6.5 billion) fleet of Japanese-designed warships.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will build the first three Mogami-class frigates in Japan. Australia plans to build another eight in a shipyard in Western Australia state.

Albanese, a keen disc jockey who performs at charity events under the stage name DJ Albo, joked about Takaichi’s renowned interest in heavy metal music.

“Sanae and I will spend more time together later today and we will continue our discussions including on issues like heavy metal music and other important matters of state,” Albanese said.

Prime Minister of Japan Sanae Takaichi, right, waves as she arrives in Canberra, Australia, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (Lukas Coch/AAP Image via AP)

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during a visit to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, Australia, Monday, May 4, 2026. (Lukas Coch/AAP Image via AP)

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, secind left, walks along the Roll of Honour during a visit to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, Australia, Monday, May 4, 2026. (Lukas Coch/AAP Image via AP)

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi walks along the Roll of Honour during a visit to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, Australia, Monday, May 4, 2026. (Lukas Coch/AAP Image via AP)

Prime Minister of Japan Sanae Takaichi, right, is greeted by Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Canberra, Australia, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (Lukas Coch/AAP Image via AP)