Young man in a velvet cap (Petrus Sylvius?) (B., Holl. 268; H. 151)

Details

Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn
Young man in a velvet cap (Petrus Sylvius?) (B., Holl. 268; H. 151)
etching, 1637, with part of a Strasburg Lily watermark, pendant initials P R (cf. A. & F., p. 201, E'.a.), second (final) state, a fine impression, with burr to the lips and the left eye, the very faint, wavy horizontal line to the left of the sitter's face quite distinct, with thread margins, a small very pale stain to the left of the sitter, repairs at the upper corners, traces of a Gersaint number inscription near the upper right corner, otherwise in good condition
(FPR 75)
P. 96 x 84 mm., S. 100 x 86 mm.

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Lot Essay

Although traditionally identified as Rembrandt's pupil Ferdinand Bol (who might easily have collaborated in the studio practice of modelling for a tronie), subsequent research by the former keeper of the Amsterdam Print Cabinet in the Rijksmueum, Mrs. D. de Hoop-Scheffer, has demonstrated that the sitter is Petrus Sylvius. He was the son of Saskia's guardian, the Reformed preacher Jan Cornelius Sylvius who conducted the marriage ceremony between Rembrandt and Saskia, and whom Rembrandt etched on two occasions (Bartsch 266 and 284). Like his father, Petrus became a minister of the Dutch Reformed Church and one might conjecture that Rembrandt made the portrait to celebrate this occasion. Studies of paper used by Rembrandt has revealed that there were two distinct editions of this print - the first in 1637, and a later edition dating from about 1653. Further research has shown that the young preacher died in 1653, and it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that this second edition was in some way connected to this sad occasion.
Reproduced actual size.

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