newsmakers

newsmakers

Experts: Painting is a Rembrandt

AMSTERDAM

The leading authority on Rembrandt says a painting long thought to have been made by one of his students actually is from the hand of the Dutch master himself.

Ernst van de Wetering of the Rembrandt Research Project cites new scans of the painting “Old Man with Beard” in addition to stylistic analysis and circumstantial evidence for the conclusion. He dates the painting to 1630, when Rembrandt would have been 24 years old, and his reputation was rapidly growing.

The scans revealed an uncompleted self-portrait by Rembrandt underneath. A different version of “Old Man” exists and is marked as a student’s copy.

The painting belongs to an unidentified private collector. It will go on display next year at the Rembrandt House Museum in Amsterdam, where the findings were announced Friday.

Winehouse Foundation makes first donations

LONDON

Amy Winehouse’s father says meeting the first children to be helped by the foundation set up in his late daughter’s name has been both heartbreaking and heartwarming.

The Amy Winehouse Foundation was launched officially 10 weeks ago to support vulnerable youth and has pledged to donate $780,000 in its first year.

The singer’s parents, Mitch and Janis Winehouse, visited Little Havens Children’s Hospice in Thundersley, east of London, on Wednesday to meet children benefitting from a $15,600 donation.

Mitch Winehouse says “it was heartbreaking, actually. ... I’m starting to well up now, but heartwarming at the same time.”

A British coroner ruled the singer, known for her beehive hairdo and hits such as “Rehab,” died of alcohol poisoning.

Bob Marley heirs sue half brother over name

MIAMI

A feud has erupted within the first family of reggae. The widow and nine children of Bob Marley are suing his half brother in Florida to stop use of the Marley name to promote an annual Miami music festival and other businesses.

The lawsuit contends businessman Richard Booker and several affiliated companies are violating copyright and trademark laws by using Marley’s name and other intellectual property.

That includes the annual Nine Mile Music Festival in Miami and a tour business at the Nine Mile area of Jamaica, where Marley grew up and is buried.

Marley died of cancer in 1981 at age 36.

Vindicator wire services