Dürer Copy Real, National Gallery Metzger

Art historian Christof Metzger has challenged the long-held view that a portrait of Albrecht Dürer's father in London's National Gallery is a copy, declaring it an authentic work by the Renaissance master. Metzger, chief curator of the Albertina in Vienna, bases his argument on the painting's outstanding artistic quality and masterful technique, detailed in his new book, despite the museum's previous assessment that its unusual, streaky background suggests it is a copy.

The reattribution matters because it could significantly alter the understanding of Dürer's early career and a key family portrait. If authentic, the work would join a very small group of Dürer's paintings, elevating its art-historical and financial value, and reigniting debate over provenance and authentication methods for Old Master works held in major institutions.