Most expensive painting by Rembrandt in private sale

The Standard Bearer (1636), by Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–69) was bought from the Rothschild banking family for €175 million ($198.9 million; £146.1 million), as confirmed on 19 January 2022. Of this total, the Dutch state contributed €150 million ($167.2 million; £124.6 million) with the remainder provided by the Rembrandt Association and the Rijksmuseum Fund. Following a nationwide tour, the work was unveiled at the Rijksmuseum on 15 June 2023, where it went on permanent display.

The canvas was one of the earliest significant paintings produced by Rembrandt after his move to Amsterdam in 1631.

The artist painted himself in the titular role as a flag bearer from the Eighty Years’ War (which was only to finish in 1648), the conflict that established the Netherlands’ independence and ushered in the Dutch Golden Age.

The success of this painting paved the way for Rembrandt’s commission to paint one of his most celebrated masterpieces, The Night Watch (1642).