1.
GV PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE IN PROGRESS, DR. GERUARD STORZ SPEAKS
0.05

2.
CU DR. STORZ SPEAKING
0.11

3.
STV MEMBERS SEATED
0.16

4.
GV DEBATE IN PROGRESS
0.20

5.
GV EXT..NATIONAL GALLERY BADEN-WURTTEMBERG
0.25

6.
SV SIGN OUTSIDE
0.28

7.
SCU WOMAN LOOKS AT REMBRANDT "SELF PORTRAIT"
0.33

8.
CU PLAQUE ON PORTRAIT
0.35

9.
FULL CU.."SELF PORTRAIT"
0.39

10.
SV WOMAN EXAMINES PAINTING WITH MAGNIFYING GLASS
0.42

11.
CU THROUGH MAGNIFYING GLASS..SECTION OF PAINTING
0.47

12.
CU PAN DOWN..ENLARGED PHOTOGRAPH OF CANVAS OF "JACOB WRESTLES WITH THE ANGEL" PAN TO PHOTOGRAPH OF CANVAS "REMBRANDT SELF PORTRAIT"
0.53

13.
CU PAN..X-RAY PICTURE OF "LOVIS CORINTH" CANVAS
0.57

14.
LV PAN..WOMAN TOURS GALLERY
1.03



Initials PC/S/WS/BB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE CONTROVERSY IN WEST GERMANY OVER THE REMBRANDT "SELF PORTRAIT", BOUGHT BY STUTTGART ART GALLERY IN 1961 FOR OVER GBP32,500, AND WHOSE AUTHENTICITY HAS BEEN DISPUTED, CAME BEFORE THE STATE GOVERNMENT AT BADEN-WURTTENBERG ON MARCH 15.

IN HIS REPLY TO SOCIAL DEMOCRAT CRITICISM OF THE ALLEGED MISUSE OF PUBLIC MONEY, DR. STORZ, THE STATE MINISTER OF CULTURE, DENIED THAT THE AUTHORITIES HAD RECEIVED WARNINGS BEFORE PURCHASING THAT THE PICTURE MIGHT BE A MODERN FAKE.

AT THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY, DR. MARTIN PORKAY, A HUNGARIAN ART CRITIC LIVING IN MUNICH, STATED THAT THE REMBRANDT, SHOWING THE DUTCH PAINTER IN A RED CAP, COULD NOT POSSIBLY HAVE ORIGINATED IN THE ARTIST'S LIFETIME. DR. PORKAY SAID IT WAS "BADLY PAINTED AND AT MOST 50 YEARS OLD".

A STUDY OF THE PICTURE IS NOW BEING MADE BY PROFESSOR COREMANS, HEADOOF THE INSTITUTE FOR THE TECHNIQUE OF PAINTING IN BRUSSELS.

ON FILM ONE IS SHOWN AN ENLARGEMENT OF A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE BACK OF A PAINTING ON HAND-WOVEN CANVAS BY REMBRANDT: "JACOB WRESTLES WITH THE ANGEL". THIS IS COMPARED WITH A SIMILAR ENLARGEMENT OF THE CONTROVERSIAL "SELF PORTRAIT". THE NUMBER OF THREADS AND THE WEAVING ON THE BACKS OF THESE PICTURES APPEAR TO BE THE SAME. THE BACK OF A 50-YEAR-OLD PAINTING BY LOUIS CORINTH - EXECUTED IN 1911 ON A CANVAS WOVEN AT THAT TIME ON A MECHANICAL LOOM - IS QUITE DIFFERENT IN APPEARANCE.

DR. STORZ TOLD THE BADEN-WUTTEMBERG GOVERNMENT THAT IF ANY SERIOUS DOUBT REMAINED AFTER THE INVESTIGATIONS, THE LONDON ART DEALER FROM WHOM IT WAS BOUGHT HAD AGREED THAT THE STUTTGART GALLERY COULD MAKE FULL USE OF THE TERMS OF PURCHASE ALLOWING FOR THE PAINTING TO BE RETURNED. DR. STORZ SAID HE WAS COMPLETELY SATISFIED WITH THE DEALER'S WILLINGNESS TO HELP IN THE MATTER.