A rare Rembrandt counterproof print, "The Goldweigher" (1639), was discovered in a Victorian chest in the Norfolk studio of the late theater designer Alan Barlow. His son, Edward Barlow, found the print while sorting through the studio and initially assumed it was a common reproduction. After examination by Cheffins auction house, it was identified as an original preparatory print, with reversed orientation, a Strasbourg lily watermark, and black chalk lines indicating Rembrandt's hand. It will be auctioned on December 3 with an estimate of £10,000–£20,000.
The discovery matters because it adds a rare preparatory work to the known corpus of Rembrandt prints, with only two other similar counterproofs held by the British Museum and the Baltimore Museum of Art. The print also sheds light on Rembrandt's relationship with Jan Uytenbogaert, the tax collector depicted, who may have received it as a thank-you gift. The find highlights how overlooked artworks can resurface in private collections, and the proceeds will be split between Edward Barlow and his sister.