Susanna and the Elders

Mahogany panel. One of the many paintings of the story of Susanna, who is spied upon by two old men when taking a bath. When the modest Susanna rejects their advances, they cause serious problems for her. Daniel comes to the rescue in the end.

Rembrandt had depicted Susanna before, in 1636. On that panel the two men are still hidden.

Research has shown that much of the background in the painting was painted over by the English painter Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792), who at the time owned the panel.