The painting depicts a scene from the biblical story of high priest Zacharias. It shows the moment Zacharias receives a visit in the temple from the Archangel Gabriel. The angel tells Zacharias that, despite his and his wife’s advanced age, they will have a son: John the Baptist. The angel is not shown in the painting, but the light shining from the upper right corner heralds his arrival. Zacharias’ expression of surprise reflects his incredulity.

In 1960, the painting was excluded from Rembrandt’s oeuvre. After being purchased by a private individual in 1961, it disappeared from public view. Unaware of the picture’s whereabouts no experts had been able to study it since that time. Recently, however, the current owner contacted the Rijksmuseum, allowing the painting to be examined for the first time in 65 years.

This two-year study has revealed that all the paints used for the Vision of Zacharias in the Temple are found in other Rembrandt van Rijn works from the same period. The painting technique and the build-up of paint layers are also comparable to other early works by Rembrandt. Macro-XRF scans and visual inspection additionally revealed compositional changes that support the authenticity of the work. Research into the signature shows that it is original, and dendrochronological analysis of the wooden panel confirms that the date of 1633 on the painting is correct.

Thematically, the work also fits seamlessly into the oeuvre of the then 27-year-old artist, alongside Daniel and Cyrus Before the Idol Bel (1633, J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles), Simeon's Song of Praise (1631, Mauritshuis, The Hague), and Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem (1630, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam).