REMBRANDT HARMENSZ. VAN RIJN (1606-1669)

The first five states of this portrait are by Rembrandt's own hand, all subsequent states are the result of posthumous changes to the plate. Of these five lifetime states, only six counterproofs are recorded in New Hollstein: one of the first state; three of the second state; two of the third state; and none of the present fourth or the fifth state. The present example thus constitutes an important and rare addition to the census of early impressions of this print, and of counterproofs in Rembrandt's oeuvre in general.