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Rembrandt "Sketch of a girl sleeping" Authorized Facsimile

Framed facsimile print of a Rembrandt sketch of a sleeping girl with British Museum certificate. - view 1
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Estimated value

$40 - $80

Rarity

Ordinary(3/10)

Brand

The Quintessa Art Collection

Era

Late 20th Century

Origin

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Artist / Creator

Rembrandt van Rijn

Authenticity

Very High(95%)
5

REMBRANDT "SKETCH OF A GIRL SLEEPING" AUTHORIZED FACSIMILE: ORIGINS & SIGNIFICANCE

This is a handsomely framed, authorized facsimile of Rembrandt harmenszoon van Rijn's "Sketch of a girl sleeping" (ca. 1655). The image beautifully replicates Rembrandt's masterly and economical use of pen, brush, and brown wash, capturing the intimate essence of his subject, widely believed to be his companion Hendrickje Stoffels. Crucially, the accompanying Certificate of Authenticity identifies this as a facsimile produced by The Quintessa Art Collection, published by kind permission of The British Museum, where the original 17th-century drawing resides. The reproduction is mounted within an elegant double mat featuring decorative marbled French lines, housed in a gilt-wood frame, presenting it as a refined piece of decorative art rather than an original Old Master drawing.

GRAPHIC ECHOES

Where This Object Echoes

European Museum CultureLate 20th Century

The mass dissemination of Old Master drawings through high-quality collotype and offset lithography to democratize access to fragile, light-sensitive works.

Ritual & Ceremonial Use

  • •Museum gift-giving and the adornment of private domestic libraries or studies with classical humanist imagery.

Meaning Through Time

17th Century

A private, intimate artist's study never intended for public view or sale.

20th Century

A celebrated icon of draftsmanship, mass-reproduced as a symbol of classical artistic genius for domestic spaces.

PRINT LINEAGE

The original drawing, held in the British Museum's Prints and Drawings collection, is a masterpiece of economy, using mere suggestions of brushstrokes to convey volume, light, and atmosphere. Because original iron gall and bistre ink drawings are highly susceptible to light damage, museums rarely ...
The original drawing, held in the British Museum's Prints and Drawings collection, is a masterpiece of economy, using mere suggestions of brushstrokes to convey volume, light, and atmosphere. Because original iron gall and bistre ink drawings are highly susceptible to light damage, museums rarely display them permanently. Reproductions of masterful drawings became highly popular in the late 20th century as institutions sought to share their delicate works on paper with a broader public. Authorized facsimiles like this one were produced utilizing exacting photomechanical processes to capture the original tonality of the aging paper and ink.

PRESS SECRETS

1

Rembrandt's original drawing is so extraordinarily sensitive to light degradation that it is kept in dark storage at the British Museum and only displayed on rare occasions.

2

The model, Hendrickje Stoffels, originally entered Rembrandt's household as a servant but eventually became his common-law wife and loyal business partner after his bankruptcy.

HOW SCARCE IS IT?

Ordinary40-55%
CommonLegendary

Standard antiques commonly found at estate sales and flea markets. Plentiful supply meets modest demand.

Typical Characteristics

  • Moderate production runs
  • Common at estate sales
  • Entry-level collectibles

Confidence Factors

  • The item retains its original publisher's certificate clearly stating it is a reproduction (facsimile).
  • There is no attempt to forge a signature or disguise the reproductive nature on the reverse.
How does authenticity detection work?

PRINT SPECIALIST'S TAKE

Paper Conservator & Print Specialist

Print Expert

The inclusion of a clear, legible Certificate of Authenticity from the publisher that matches the artwork perfectly leaves no ambiguity regarding the print's origin and status.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Included COA explicitly defining the work as a Quintessa Collection facsimile of a British Museum holding.
  • 2Flat, uniform surface reflection typical of photomechanical reproduction rather than original applied, pooled ink wash.
  • 3Presentation in modern double-mat with decorative printed bevels, characteristic of commercial fine-art framing of the era.

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •The user's belief that this is an original drawing contradicts the explicit text on the accompanying certificate.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Examine the print surface under 10x or 30x magnification (loupe) to observe the halftone dot matrix, conclusively demonstrating its photomechanical origin.
  • →Ensure the artwork is hung away from direct sunlight, as offset lithographic reproductions are highly susceptible to UV fading.

CONDITION & GRADE

Condition

The print appears to be in excellent, stable condition within its housing. There are no obvious signs of foxing, mat burn, UV fading, or planar distortion. The framing is intact, supporting a highly presentable decorative state.

Surface

The printed surface mimics the matte, slightly textured porosity of laid paper used in the 17th century. The reprographic process successfully captures the varied optical density of the original aqueous wash, though under magnification, a mechanical dot matrix would be visible.

Weight & feel

Substantial for its size, dictated entirely by the modern framing package, glazing, and gilt-finished moulding.

PRINT MARKET VALUATION

$40 - $80

Updated: Apr 10, 2026

Who buys this

Interior decorators, art history enthusiasts, and buyers looking for classically styled wall art without the prohibitive budget required for original Old Master drawings.

What increases value

  • •Quality and aesthetic appeal of the frame and matting
  • •Presence of the original British Museum / Quintessa certificate
  • •Clean, unblemished glazing

What lowers value

  • •Fading from UV exposure, which washes out the rich brown tones
  • •Moisture damage causing paper rippling (cockling)
  • •Chips or scratches to the gilt frame

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Unbroken dust cover on the verso of the framing package
  • •Upgraded UV-protective museum glazing
  • •No visible color shift compared to the tones of the original drawing

Grade & condition

For decorative facsimiles, value is almost entirely dependent on the physical condition of the print (lack of fading or moisture damage) and the aesthetic condition and cost to replace the frame.

Rarity & demand

OrdinaryModerate demandModerate liquidity
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For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

CONTEXT ANALYSIS

How your provided context compares with Curiosa.com scanner findings.

What Aligned

  • User's assessment of 'Mint' condition appears consistent with the clean, well-preserved state of the print and framing visible in the images.

What Conflicted

  • User believes the item is an 'Original/Authentic' artwork; however, the provided Certificate of Authenticity explicitly states it is a 'facsimile' (a reproduction) of the original held by the British Museum.

FROM THE CABINET OF

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adeboer
Fellow Collector•25 items

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