320. The Jewish Bride (The Artist's Wife) [1635; 17th century run]

In 1635, Rembrandt van Rijn was 29 years old and lived with his wife, Saskia van Uylenburgh, in an apartment on the Nieuwe Doelenstraat (New Street) in Amsterdam, where five years later he painted his famous "Night Watch". Popular and being requested multiple works of art, Rembrandt was gaining an international reputation firstly due to his engravings that circulated all over Europe. Contrary to the Academicist trends of France and the states of Italy, Rembrandt was also noted by the painter Guercino as "a great virtuoso" of the art of engraving, his prints on paper fascinating the greatest collectors of Europe in the first half of the 17th century. The title of the "Jewish Bride", in fact "De grote Joodse bruid" is most likely derived from the list made by Adam Bartsch, influenced by the Jewish typical tradition of the 18th century. The iconography presents the Jewish bride who meets her husband with her hair let down and holding Ketubah, a prenuptial document typical of the Jewish culture, which stipulated the rights and duties of the groom. The Jewish bride identified by Bartsch was supposed to be the daughter of Ephraim Bonus, but today she is recognised as Rembrandt's wife, Saskia van Uylenburgh, with whom he had been married for just a year when he made this engraving. The plate had 5 intermediate stages, the first two depicting only the bust of the model. The engraving bears the inventory number B340 in "Le Peintre Graveur", A. Bartsch, and it is the fourth stage of the plate, the final stage also highlighting the bricks in the upper right side.

Dimensions

width 17 cm, height 22 cm, custom 17x22

Description

etching, needle engraving and chisel etching, signed and dated, engraved, lower left, "R.,1635"

Research information

Gravură Stadiu IV.

Lot.notes

marca colecţiei P. Davidsohn (Lugt 654) cu peniţa în cerneală brună; însemnări în creion, "Eau-forte originale tirage sur papier filigrané Lis de Strasbourg, Epreuve aux armes D"Amsterdam"

Dating

1635; 17th century run

PROVENANCE

early 20th century, the collection of Paul Davidsohn (1839-1927), collector, merchant, associate of the British Museum, sold in 1920 in Leipzig.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For clarifications regarding the bidding procedure, hammer price costs, guarantee, payment, and collection terms for the winning lot, we recommend carefully reading/re-reading the Bidding Regulations.

For additional information regarding the lot and the auction, please contact the Art Consultants Department.