Live Auction 20060Old Master Prints
REMBRANDT HARMENSZ. VAN RIJN (1606-1669)
Lot 121

REMBRANDT HARMENSZ. VAN RIJN (1606-1669)

A Standing Hurdy-Gurdy Player ('Polander standing with Arms folded')

Closed9 December 2021

Price Realised

GBP 7,500

Considering selling a similar item?

Discover its value with a complimentary estimate from our specialists.

More Information

Conditions of Sale
How to sell

REMBRANDT HARMENSZ. VAN RIJN (1606-1669)
A Standing Hurdy-Gurdy Player ('Polander standing with Arms folded')
etching, circa 1635, on laid paper, without watermark, a good, delicate impression of this rare, lightly etched print, New Hollstein’s second, final state, printing with plate tone, the fine granular texture on the figure still visible, with narrow margins on three sides, trimmed just outside the subject above
Sheet 47 x 48 mm.

Dr Christian David Ginsburg (1831-1914), Palmer's Green, England (Lugt 1145); his sale, Sotheby's, London, 20-23 July 1915, lot 417(with four others).
With Craddock & Barnard, London.
Acquired from the above; then by descent to the present owner.

Specialist note

Presumably in reference to the high cap which may have been considered of Polish origin, this little print has long been called 'A Polander with folded Arms', a title either invented or adopted by Bartsch. Upon closer examination, the musical instrument tucked under the man's are has been recognised as a hurdy-gurdy, thus identifying him as roaming street musician, a popular subject in 17th century Golden Age art and one of particular interest to Rembrandt. Hurdy-gurdy players appear in three other etchings within his oeuvre, and he portrayed these and other itinerant performers and beggars, who were generally looked upon with contempt and suspicion, with attention and sympathy.