This painting displays many of the elements of Rembrandt van Rijn’s work around 1629: an aged scholar in his study, dramatic lighting with a hidden light source and a copper support. Though it was removed from the master’s oeuvre by the Rembrandt Research Project in 1982, it bears some similarities with paintings that have been newly attributed to the artist, thereby reopening the discussion around its authorship. Its fine brushwork, small scale and limited palette are solid evidence for an attribution to the master.