REMBRANDT HARMENSZ. VAN RIJN

Thomas Haaringh ('Old Haaringh') (B., Holl. 274; H. 287; BB. 55-I)

Details

REMBRANDT HARMENSZ. VAN RIJN
Thomas Haaringh ('Old Haaringh') (B., Holl. 274; H. 287; BB. 55-I)
drypoint and touches of engraving, circa 1655, on fine laid paper, countermark I Villedary, second (final) state, a very fine impression of this extremely rare print, with considerable rich burr on the sitter's dress and on the drapes top left, with narrow margins, a tiny surface scrape (touched) at the bottom sheet edge, a few tiny thin spots at the sheet edges showing only on the reverse, otherwise in very good condition
P. 7 5/8 x 5 5/8in. (194 x 144mm.)

Provenance

C. Josi (L. 573)
John H. Wrenn (L. 1475)
Capt. Gordon Nowell-Usticke
Dr. Otto Schäfer, his stamp verso (not in Lugt)

Lot Essay

A portrait of the Concierge at the City Hall in Amsterdam, who supervised the bankruptcy sales within the Desolate Bodelkamer, including that of Rembrandt himself in 1656. Thomas Haaringh is portrayed with both sympathy and respect, an old man who has witnessed some of the more distressing sides of life in the Courts.

The portrait is worked almost exclusively in drypoint, a fugitive medium, which accounts for the rarity of impressions.