An academic known as the world's leading expert on Rembrandt contends that the National Gallery London has relegated to storage an important work by the artist. More than four decades ago, the painting at issue was deemed to be by a follower of Rembrandt's, but it is now being re-examined as the work of the 17th century Dutch master himself. Not only that, it is considered a pivotal work for the artist.

"It is of wonderful quality and is revolutionary in a sense," Ernst van de Wetering told the Guardian. "It is a very important painting."

Professor Van de Wetering was director of the Rembrandt Research Project in the Netherlands. He claims "Old Man in an Armchair" was misattributed by Horst Gerson, the reigning expert on Rembrandt decades ago, as not by the master, possibly becuase it did not look like his work. Van de Wetering will present his arguments for a reattribution in the June issue of Burlington magazine.