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Lot Essay
THE ORIGINAL OF 1633, ARCHED TOP, ON CANVAS, 96.2 X 72.2 CM, IS IN THE BAYERISCHE STAATSGEMäLDESAMMLUNGEN ALTE PINAKOTHEK, MUNICH, INV. NO394 (J. BRUYN ET. AL., A CORPUS OF REMBRANDT PAINTINGS, 1989, III, NOA69, PP.311-320, WITH ILL.). IT ONCE FORMED PART OF A SERIES ILLUSTRATING THE PASSION, PAINTED FOR PRINCE FREDERIK HENDRIK AND MENTIONED IN THE INVENTORY OF THE PALACE NOORDEINDE IN 1654/68. THE SERIES CONSISTED OF AT LEAST FIVE CANVASES AND POSSIBLY SEVEN. CONSTANTIJN HUYGENS, THE PRINCE'S SECRETARY, WHO HAD RECOMMENDED REMBRANDT TO THE PRINCE, ACTED AS AN AGENT. CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN HUYGENS AND REMBRANDT SHOWS THAT THE RAISING OF THE CROSS AND THE DESCENT OF THE CROSS WERE PROBABLY PAINTED ON REMBRANDT'S OWN ACCOUNT AND SUBSEQUENTLY SOLD AND HUNG IN THE STADHOUDERLIJK KWARTIER, THE HAGUE, WHEN FREDERIK HENDRIK COMMISSIONED THE OTHER CANVASES: THE ENTOMBMENT, THE RESURRECTION AND THE ASCENSION. ALL FIVE PAINTINGS ARE NOW IN MUNICH.