Self-portrait

Rembrandt van Rijn, c. 1628

Even as an inexperienced young artist, Rembrandt did not shy away from experimenting. Here the light glances along his right cheek, while the rest of his face is veiled in shadow. It takes a while to realize that the artist is gazing intently out at us. Using the butt end of his brush, Rembrandt made scratches in the still wet paint to accentuate the curls of his tousled hair.

  • Artwork typepainting
  • Object numberSK-A-4691
  • Dimensionsheight 22.6 cm x width 18.7 cm, height 33.2 cm x width 29.3 cm x depth 5.9 cm
  • Physical characteristicsoil on panel

Stories

Self-Portrait, Rembrandt

1:00 min. - The 22-year-old Rembrandt seen here did not shy away from experimenting

Self-portrait

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Identification

  • Title(s)

    • Self-portrait
    • Self Portrait
    • Self-Portrait at an Early Age (former title)

  • Object type

  • Object number

    SK-A-4691

  • Description

    Zelfportret van Rembrandt op jeugdige leeftijd. Buste naar rechts, het gelaat in de schaduw, met krullend haar.

Creation

  • Creation

    painter: Rembrandt van Rijn

  • Dating

    c. 1628

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Material and technique

  • Physical description

    oil on panel

  • Dimensions

    • height 22.6 cm x width 18.7 cm
    • height 33.2 cm x width 29.3 cm x depth 5.9 cm

This work is about

  • Person

  • Subject

Acquisition and rights

  • Credit line

    Purchased with the support of the Vereniging Rembrandt, the Stichting tot Bevordering van de Belangen van het Rijksmuseum and the ministerie van CRM

  • Acquisition

    purchase 1977

  • Copyright

    Public domain

  • Provenance

    …; collection Dr Alexander Patterson (1835-1909), Glasgow; …; collection James E. Mackay, Glasgow; by descent to his granddaughter Mary A. Winter, Bearsden, Dumbartonshire;{For the provenance of the painting in Scotland see especially Lloyd Williams 1992, p. 19.} sale, Lady Sturley, Mrs S. Radcliffe et al. [section 'other properties' (Mrs Mary A. Winter)], London (Sotheby's), 27 May 1959, no. 135, as 'after Rembrandt', £ 1,700, to the dealer D.H. Cevat, St Peter Port, Guernsey; from whom on loan to the museum, 1960-71 (SK-C-1457); from whom, fl. 1,800,000, to the museum, with support from the Vereniging Rembrandt, the Prins Bernhardfonds, the Commissie voor Fotoverkoop, and the Ministerie van Cultuur, Recreatie en Maatschappelijk Werk, 1977

  • Remarks

    Please note that this provenance was formulated with a special focus on provenance research for the years 1933-45 and could therefore be incomplete. There may be more (mostly earlier) provenance information known in the museum. In case this item has an uncertain or incomplete provenance for the years 1933-45, the Rijksmuseum welcomes information and assistance in the investigation and clarification of the provenance of all works during that era.

Documentation

  • The Rembrandt Database, Object information, Rembrandt, Self portrait, c. 1628, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, inv. no. SK-A- 4691, http://www.rembrandtdatabase.org/Rembrandt/painting/2943/self-portrait, accessed 2016 February 01

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