Painted-over Rembrandt is revealed

A Rembrandt self-portrait hidden for centuries after it was painted over by another artist went on show in Amsterdam on Thursday following years of art detective work to reveal the 17th century Dutch masterpiece.

The 1634 self-portrait, concealed for more than 300 years beneath a painting of a Russian aristocrat by an unknown artist, was displayed for the first time at the Rembrandt museum after years of painstaking restoration, the museum said.

The portrait -- showing a 28-year-old Rembrandt with long hair, mustache and a beret -- was discovered by a team of art specialists led by Rembrandt expert Ernst van de Wetering, who examined the mystery canvas in forensic detail in the 1990s.

Despite his wealth of talent, Rembrandt was short of money. Experts believe he allowed his art students to paint over the pictures he did not sell. One or more of his pupils is believed to have painted over the recently revealed self-portrait.