A portrait of the great artist Rembrandt has turned out to have been painted by the man himself, despite for years people thinking that it was done by one of the 17th century painter’s pupils.

Dated 1635 and containing his signature, experts have nevertheless also concluded that the painting wasn’t by the Dutchman because of its crude brush strokes and style, quite different from other Rembrandts of the time. It depicts the artist aged 29 in a feather-filled cap, and is currently hanging in Buckland Abbey in south western England. The painting will eventually go off for further investigation, having initially been uncovered as a genuine Rembrandt by art expert Ernst van de Wetering. "Over the past 45 years, we have gathered far more knowledge about Rembrandt's self-portraits and the fluctuations in his style," he said.

“It’s amazing to think we might’ve had an actual Rembrandt hanging here on the walls at Buckland Abbey for the past couple of years,” said Jez McDermott, the abbey’s property manager. “Many of our visitors will have just passed by it, in what is sure to be a real contrast to the attention it is now going to receive.” The painting is now thought to be worth some $30 million and was donated to the abbey in 2010 by Edna, Lady Samuel of Wych Cross