Russell Shorto, a contributing writer for the New York Times Magazine, dives into the thrilling tale of art dealer Jan Six's discovery of a long-lost Rembrandt painting. They discuss the meticulous process of authentication that rocked the art world and the legacy intertwined with the Six family. Shorto highlights the tensions between commercial interests and artistic truth, along with the evolving dynamics of the art market and the enduring appeal of Dutch masters. The conversation ultimately reveals how art continues to shape identity and legacy.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
The Discovery
Jan Six, a Dutch art dealer, discovered an unattributed Rembrandt painting in a Christie's catalog.
He recognized the distinct gaze, brushstrokes, and lace collar typical of Rembrandt's early works.
insights INSIGHT
No "Circle of"
Rembrandt's early works lack the typical "circle of" attribution because he wasn't yet famous.
This fact helped Six realize Christie's misattributed the painting.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Family Legacy
Jan Six XI carries the burden of his lineage as an art world aristocrat.
The Six family has a long history of collecting art, including a famous Rembrandt portrait of the first Jan Six.
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The novel centers around 13-year-old Theodore Decker, whose life dramatically changes after he survives a terrorist attack at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where his mother is killed. During the chaos, Theo takes the famous Dutch painting 'The Goldfinch' by Carel Fabritius. The story follows Theo's journey through grief, guilt, and his complex relationships, including his friendship with Boris and his involvement in the art underworld. The novel spans several years, detailing Theo's struggles with identity, loss, and the impact of the painting on his life[5][6][2].
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In 'The Da Vinci Code', Robert Langdon is called to the Louvre Museum in Paris after the murder of the curator, Jacques Saunière. Along with French cryptologist Sophie Neveu, Langdon embarks on a perilous journey to decipher cryptic clues hidden in the works of Leonardo da Vinci. The plot revolves around an alternative religious history, suggesting that Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene had a child, and their descendants are protected by the Priory of Sion. The novel is a blend of relentless adventure, scholarly intrigue, and cutting wit, with numerous twists and turns that keep the reader engaged until the astonishing conclusion.
A history of the Six family
Giert Mach
No information available.
Rembrandts Portrait of a young gentleman
Rembrandts Portrait of a young gentleman
Jan Six
It was in the winter of 2016 that Jan Six, a Dutch art dealer based in Amsterdam, made a discovery that would upend his life. He was leafing through a Christie’scatalog when he spotted a painting featuring a young man wearing a dazed look, a lace collar and a proto-Led Zeppelin coif. Christie’s had labeled it a painting by one of Rembrandt’s followers, but Mr. Six knew it was by the Dutch master himself.
Today on The Sunday Read, a look at Mr. Six’s discovery of the first new Rembrandt painting in over four decades, and the fallout from finding it.
This story was written by Russell Shorto and recorded by Audm. To hear more audio stories from publishers like The New York Times, download Audm for iPhone or Android.
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