Live Auction 7781Old Master Prints
Christie’s roundel
Lot 50

Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn

Christ preaching: 'La Petite Tombe' (B., Holl. 67; H. 256)

Closed8 December 2009

Price Realised

GBP 16,250

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Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn
Christ preaching: 'La Petite Tombe' (B., Holl. 67; H. 256)
etching with drypoint, circa 1652, watermark Strasburg Lily, a good impression, with touches of burr on the cloak worn by the man front left and on Christ's shawl, with margins, a tiny plugged hole beneath the foot of the man seated at left, minor traces of old adhesive (?) in the lower left corner of the subject, pale scattered foxing, traces of an ink line at the upper sheet edge, otherwise in good condition, framed
P. 155 x 207 mm., S. 163 x 214 mm.

Specialist note

The subject is similar to Christ healing the Sick (see lots 48 and 49) which Rembrandt completed only a few years before. Here the scene is much more intimate - the gathering smaller and in a much more confined space, and Christ is only slightly taller than those around him - a contrast with the earlier print where he is a monumental figure. Instead of the highly accomplished preacher dealing simultaneously with several groups of people, he is now speaking directly and with humility to a much smaller group, each of whom (save the child in the foreground) is giving him their full attention.