Self-Portrait, wearing a soft Cap: full Face, Head only
Important information about this lot
Price Realised GBP 32,500
Estimate
GBP 15,000 - GBP 25,000
Estimates do not reflect the final hammer price and do not include buyer's premium, any applicable taxes or artist's resale right. Please see the Conditions of Sale for full details.
Closed: 28 Jan 2021
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REMBRANDT HARMENSZ. VAN RIJN (1606-1669)
Self-Portrait, wearing a soft Cap: full Face, Head only
Few other artists depicted themselves as regularly and with such variety and psychological insight as Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669). He painted himself before the mirror on at least forty occasions, and etched no fewer than 32 self-portraits in a career that stretched over three decades. Rembrandt used his own features to explore the workings of the human physiognomy. These works, in which the artist depicted himself shouting, laughing or frowning, not only demonstrate his virtuosity as a portraitist and etcher but also his acute emotional sensibility and extraordinary power of observation. Most of his etched self-portraits were made from the early to the late 1630s. Although the artist moved away from these explicit studies of human emotion, his self-portraits created after 1630 are testament to an ongoing interest in character and persona. In 1631 he moved to Amsterdam and very quickly achieved acclaim as a portraitist. This very small, almost stamp-size self-portrait was created circa1634 when the artist was 28 years old – two years earlier than the Self-Portrait with Saskia(see lot 3 of this sale). The artist focuses solely on his youthful face, wearing a soft cap whose rim falls over his long, curly hair caressing his neck. His gaze is firm and steadfast, but there is a good-natured, confident, perhaps slightly mocking twinkle in his eyes.
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Condition report
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The condition of lots can vary widely and the nature of the lots sold means that they are unlikely to be in a perfect condition. Lots are sold in the condition they are in at the time of sale.
In addition to the catalogue description: - trimmed to or just outside the platemark, within the platemark at the lower sheet edge in places. - a few tiny stains in places, one above the right eye. - lacking the extreme tip of the lower right corner, the corner with a 2 mm. tear, backed with a tiny piece of Japan paper verso. - a tiny and unobtrusive plugged pinhole at the upper left. - minor remains of old adhesive in places verso. - hinged with brown tape along the upper sheet verso. Otherwise as described and in good condition.
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Lot 11Sale 20187
Self-Portrait, wearing a soft Cap: full Face, Head onlyREMBRANDT HARMENSZ. VAN RIJN (1606-1669)Estimate: GBP 15,000 - 25,000
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