How can I tell if a Rembrandt etching is an original or a later restrike?

Authentic 17th-century etchings feature distinct watermarks in the paper, such as the Fool’s Cap or Seven Provinces, which are visible under backlighting. Collectors should examine the plate mark for sharpness and use a jeweler's loupe to ensure the lines are etched into the paper rather than printed via photogravure, a common 19th-century reproduction technique.

What is the most expensive Rembrandt painting sold at auction?

The highest price ever paid for a work associated with him was $180 million in 2015, when the French and Dutch governments jointly purchased the pendant portraits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit from the Rothschild collection. In 2023, the small-scale 'Adoration of the Kings' sold for £11 million at Sotheby’s London after being reattributed by scholars.

Are Rembrandt's original copper plates still in existence?

The copper plates for 78 of his etchings survived into the late 20th century, most notably the 'Basan' collection purchased by the Humbert family in 1993. Prints from these original plates, though dated centuries after his death, are still technically original impressions but hold significantly lower market value than lifetime impressions pulled before 1669.

What specific materials did Rembrandt use in his oil paintings?

His oils are characterized by high-lead content impasto and the use of 'smalt,' a cobalt glass pigment that causes certain blue tones to turn grey or brown over centuries. Macro X-ray fluorescence imaging in 2020 revealed he often recycled canvases, such as 'Old Man in Military Costume,' which contains a hidden portrait underneath the visible surface.

Artist

REMBRANDT VAN RIJN

Dutch Golden Age painter and printmaker (1606–1669), widely regarded as one of the greatest visual artists in history. Rembrandt's mastery of light and shadow, psychological depth in portraiture, and innovative printmaking techniques have made his works among the most studied and collected in the world. Major museums hold his paintings as crown jewels of their collections.

ARTIST PROFILE

Years

1606–1669

Nationality

Dutch

Movement

Dutch Golden Age, Baroque

Mediums

Oil Painting, Etching

Known For

Art

Notable Works

The Night Watch • The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp • Self-Portrait with Two Circles

Rarity:

Very Rare

You've seen all works by Rembrandt van Rijn in the collection

The compositions that redefined chiaroscuro and printmaking technicality

The Night Watch (Militia Company of District II under the Command of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq)

This 1642 militia company commission measures 363 by 437 centimeters and remains the largest canvas from the Dutch Golden Age. In 2021, the Rijksmuseum used artificial intelligence to restore the four edges trimmed in 1715, reintegrating figures on the left and right sides.

Frequently asked questions

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REMBRANDT VAN RIJN

ARTIST PROFILE

Rembrandt Etching: Old Man with a Divided Fur Cap (Bartsch 265)

Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn - "Abraham and Isaac" (Etching, First State)

Rembrandt "Sketch of a girl sleeping" Authorized Facsimile

Rembrandt 'The Night Watch' Framed Reproduction Print

Facsimile Print of 'A Young Woman Sleeping' after Rembrandt