Lot 145
Rembrandt Van Rijn (Dutch, 1606-1669). "The Statue of Nebuchadnezzer," 1655. An etching and drypoint on wove paper mounted on vellum paper. Signed and dated in the plate "Rembrandt f. 1655". An incredibly rare etching by Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn. Rembrandt created this and 3 other etchings, to illustrate a messianic treatise by the Sephardic rabbi and scholar Samuel Manasseh Ben Israel (1604-1657) titled "Piedra gloriosa de la estatua de Nebuchadnesar" (Glorious Stone of the Statue of Nebuchadnezzar) which was written in Spanish and published in Amsterdam in 1655. The original uncut plate featured four images, including the Statue of Nebuchadnezzar, Jacob's Ladder, David and Goliath, and Daniel's vision of the four beasts. The uncut plate for Rembrandt's four etchings went through three states before being divided into four separate compositions by the publisher. In this composition Rembrandt shows us the image of the statue that Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dreams (Book of Daniel) which was crushed by the "glorious stone hewn not by human hand" and would fill the earth; note the globe to the right of the stone. Size (image): 4" L x 2.75" W (10.2 cm x 7 cm) Size (frame): 24.125" L x 22.75" W (61.3 cm x 57.8 cm)
King Nebuchadnezzar had been a powerful ruler, but God punished him for his arrogant pride, inflicting him with insanity until he respected God's sovereignty. Notice how Rembrandt, a master of conveying human emotion, captures the biblical King's humiliating state of madness, presenting him in a vulnerable, wild, almost savage state. To amplify this dark psychological state, shadows surround Nebuchadnezzar. Rembrandt often chose biblical themes to delve into the human condition and his decision to capture a king's downfall resonates with his society's fascination with themes of morality and human frailty.
PROVENANCE: private Parker, Colorado, USA collection; ex collection of G.A. H. Buisman Jzn.
This piece was reviewed by a respected source outside of Park West, prior to consignment at Artemis Fine Arts.
The accompanying COA states, "Biorkland's fifth state of five, White and Boon's fifth state of five, and Nowell Eusticke's fourth state of four, after the names of nations were added to the headband and limbs; on the forehead, Babel; right arm, Perai; left arm, Medi; navel, Graeci; right leg, Romani; left leg, Mahometani. / According to Nowell Eusticke, an early fourth state impression where the headband is brought down lower to the eyebrows and the left side of the statue is burnished. / Nowell Eusticke refers to this seventeenth century impression as 'strong and rich' with 'much burr". / Plate no lonter in existence. / Nowell Eusticke refers this image as an RRR+ (with 30-50 prints in collections across the world)."
Swann Auction Galleries sold another impression of Rembrandt's "The Statue of Nebuchadnezzer" (1655) for $18,000 ($22,500 including buyers premium) in their Old Master Through Modern Prints sale on November 1, 2018 (lot 114). In the description, Swann's emphasized the rarity of the piece, reporting that they "have not found another impression of this subject, from the quartered plate, at auction in the past 30 years." In addition, "Ustick notes approximately 30 impressions in private collections while New Hollstein lists another 61 impressions in public collections."
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Item #
197107
- Condition: Good. Mounted under glass with custom mats and custom moldings in a custom frame. Artwork has not been examined outside the frame but appears to be in very good condition.
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