Christie’s roundel
Lot 48

Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn

Christ healing the Sick: 'The Hundred Guilder Print' (B., Holl. 74; H. 74)

Closed8 December 2009

Price Realised

GBP 37,250

More Information

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Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn
Christ healing the Sick: 'The Hundred Guilder Print' (B., Holl. 74; H. 74)
etching with drypoint and engraving, circa 1649, watermark Strasbourg Lily (Hinterding I-c-a), a very good, bright and subtle impression of the second, final state, still printing with traces of burr, before the later re-work, with small margins, several small defects in the margins, carefully reinforced along the sheet edges, the upper right corner skilfully re-attached, a small pale stain on the shoulder of the man with a tall cap at left, generally in good condition
P. 279 x 390 mm., S. 281 x 395 mm.

Specialist note

Since its creation Christ healing the Sick has been admired as Rembrandt's most ambitious, complex and highly-worked composition as a printmaker. In it he used every tool at his command, and worked in a variety of styles, from the freely drawn Pharisees to the detailed and precise rendering of textures on the figures at the right. However, certain elements seem incomplete, such as the rather mechanical shading at the upper left, and the figure with his back to the viewer at the left, who appears unfinished save for his hands and hat. This, and the differing styles, has given rise to the idea that it was worked on over a number of years.