Alistair Hardaker | Image: Rembrandt, Portrait of Catrina Hooghsaet
A masterpiece by one of the most famous artists of all time has been placed under a temporary export bar in the hope it can be saved for the nation.
A temporary export bar has been placed on Portrait of Catrina Hooghsaet, one of Rembrandt’s most exceptional later works, valued at £71m. DCMS said the work is now the most expensive object ever to be given national treasure status.
DCMS now hopes that a UK gallery or institution will step forward to acquire the work, which dates from 1657 and has been displayed in the UK since the mid eighteenth century. It said the portrait is of exceptional importance to our shared history and national life.
The decision to defer an export licence follows advice from the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest.
The portrait depicts Catrina Hooghsaet, an affluent member of Amsterdam’s Mennonite community whose unconventional domestic life saw her live separately from her husband. Rembrandt’s thoughtful depiction captures both her character and individuality, demonstrating his celebrated ability to convey the inner life of his sitters. It belongs to a rare group of large-scale three-quarter-length portraits from the final phase of his career.
The Reviewing Committee said that the painting met all three Waverley criteria for its outstanding connection with our history and national life, its outstanding aesthetic importance, and its outstanding significance to the study of Rembrandt and his work.
Arts Minister Ruth Mackenzie said: “The Portrait of Catrina Hooghsaet has been part of the UK’s cultural life for centuries. The scale, beauty and history of this masterpiece make it a priority for cultural partners, funders, philanthropists, and lovers of Rembrandt to help this masterpiece keep its historical place in the UK.”
Andrew Hochhauser KC, committee chairman, added: “This enormously important painting should be saved for the nation and kept on public display in this country.”
The decision on the export licence application will be deferred until 26 December 2026. At the end of the initial deferral period, there will be a 15-business-day consideration window for any formal offer to purchase the painting at the recommended price of £71,696,324.90 (plus VAT of £754,698.15). A second deferral period of nine months will follow if an Option Agreement is signed.
