Details

Historical Description

Presenting the viewer with a striking image of Christ on the cross, Rembrandt creates a powerful scene of mourning and reflection. Hanging ominously in the center of the composition, Christ's body appears as though illuminated. Two crucified thieves flank Christ on either side, their faces indiscernible, their bodies enveloped in shadow. Figures surrounding Christ kneel down in anguish at the bottom of the composition, adding a sense of weight and depth to the piece. Encased within an oval border, the viewer feels as though he or she is glimpsing in on a crucial, tragic moment and senses the loss and distress felt by the mourning masses beneath Christ's body.

Created in c. 1641, this piece is a Nowell-Usticke early State II (of III) impression; Biörklund State II (of II); White & Boon State II (of II); Hind State II (of II). According to Nowell-Usticke this work is an uncommon print with approximately 125-225 known impressions (Usticke 12, B. 79).

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:
This work is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonnés and texts (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that will accompany the final sale of the work).

1. Bartsch. The Illustrated Bartsch Vol. 50. Edited by Stephanie S. Dickey. New York: Abaris Books, 1981. Illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 79
(another example illustrated) on page 65.
2. Biörklund, George, Rembrandt's Etchings: True and False, 1968. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. BB 41-2.
3. Hind, Arthur. A Catalogue of Rembrandt's Etchings. New York, 1967. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 173.
4. M?nz, Ludwig. Rembrandt's Etchings: Reproductions of the Whole Original Etched Work, Vol. 1. London: Phaidon Press, 1952. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 242 (another example illustrated).
5. M?nz, Ludwig. Rembrandt's Etchings: Reproductions of the Whole Original Etched Work, Vol.2. London: Phaidon Press, 1952. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no.215.
6. Nowell-Usticke, G.W. Rembrandt's Etchings. Narberth, 1988. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 79.
7. White, Christopher & Karel Boon. Rembrandt's Etchings, Vol. I: Text. Amsterdam, 1969. Listed as catalogue raisonné no. B.79.
8. White, Christopher & Karel Boon. Rembrandt's Etchings, Vol. II: Plates. Amsterdam, 1969. Illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. B.79.

About the Framing:
This work is framed to museum-grade, conservation standards, presented in a complementary moulding and finished with linen-wrapped mats and optical grade Plexiglas.