The Authenticated Work

The most well-documented version of 'Old Man in Prayer' is indeed a work by Rembrandt van Rijn. This painting is a quintessential example of the Baroque and Tenebrist art movements. It depicts an elderly man in a moment of devout prayer, with his face marked by deep creases and lines signifying age and wisdom. His eyes are closed, and his hands are clasped in prayer. The use of chiaroscuro, a technique characterized by strong contrasts between light and dark, heightens the emotional gravity of the scene. The composition is simple, focusing the viewer's attention on the inner life and piety of the old man, inviting reflections on themes of faith, mortality, and spiritual practice.

The Disputed Attribution

There is another painting titled An Elderly Man in Prayer that was formerly attributed to Rembrandt but is now believed to be the work of a follower or a later imitator of Rembrandt's style. This painting, housed at the Cleveland Museum of Art, shows an elderly man seated with his eyes nearly closed and hands clasped in prayer over a large book. While it bears resemblance to Rembrandt's late works, particularly in its dramatic lighting and dark color palette, it has been reattributed due to the broad, flat brushwork of the garment, the poor handling of shadow on the hands, and the uniform treatment of the hair.