The Städel Museum in Frankfurt, Germany, is undertaking a major conservation treatment of Rembrandt van Rijn's monumental painting *The Blinding of Samson* (1636). The project, expected to last three to four years, will address signs of aging and previous restorations, remove non-original paint, and create a historically accurate frame. The conservation follows a 2021 research seminar linked to the museum's exhibition "Rembrandt in Amsterdam: Creativity and Competition," during which technical studies revealed previously unknown underdrawing techniques and adjustments to the artist's color palette and composition. Funding is provided by the Bank of America Art Conservation Project.
This conservation effort matters because it aims to restore the painting's original intensity while ensuring its long-term preservation, offering new insights into Rembrandt's creative process. The project parallels recent high-profile conservation work on Rembrandt's *The Night Watch* at the Rijksmuseum, underscoring ongoing scholarly and public interest in the Dutch master's techniques. The findings from the Städel's research contribute to a deeper understanding of 17th-century painting methods and the artist's evolving approach.