0 likesNot savedShare from mobile app
oil paint (paint)75 × 83 Cm
Views
0
Likes
0
Saves
Not saved
Shares
0
About the artwork
Artist supplied description.
This evocative character study is an early example of a type of subject that preoccupied the great Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn throughout his long career. Although his large output included landscapes, genre paintings, and the occasional still life, he focused on biblical and historical paintings and on portraits. As an extension of these interests, the artist studied the effect of a single figure, made dramatic through the use of costume and rich, subtle lighting. Rembrandt collected costumes to transform his models into characters. Here, the gold chain and steel gorget suggest an honored military career, while the plumed beret evokes an earlier time. The broad black mass of the old man’s torso against a neutral background is a powerful foil for these trappings. The face is that of a real person, weathered and watchful, glowing with pride and humanity. The unidentified sitter, once thought to be the artist’s father, was a favorite model, appearing in many of the artist’s early works. The confident execution suggests that the young Rembrandt completed this picture about 1631, when he had left his native Leiden to pursue a career in the metropolis of Amsterdam; perhaps he wished to use this work to demonstrate his skill in a genre that combined history painting and portraiture.
Artwork metadata
Structured fields synced from connected systems.
| Medium | oil paint (paint) |
| Dimensions | 75 × 83 Cm |
| Tags | portraits: male subjectchainsportraitsCentury of Progressworld's fairsChicago World's Fairsmenblack (color)hatsjewelryfashion |
| Certificate | Certificate not provided |
Timeline
Chain of custody, exhibitions, and verification milestones synced from the provenance service.
Thu
22
Jan
note
Jacob Alewijn, Amsterdam
Jacob Alewijn, Amsterdam
Thu
22
Jan
note
by descent to his widow Margaretha Helena Graafland (died 1766)
by descent to his widow Margaretha Helena Graafland (died 1766)
Thu
22
Jan
exhibition
Detroit Institute of Arts, Loan Exhibition of Paintings by Rembrandt, no. 8.
Detroit Institute of Arts, Loan Exhibition of Paintings by Rembrandt, no. 8.
Thu
22
Jan
note
sold by Julius Böhler to Reinhardt, New York [letter from Böhler cited above
sold by Julius Böhler to Reinhardt, New York [letter from Böhler cited above
Thu
22
Jan
note
Christine Slottved Kimbriel and Louis Newman with contributions from Kamila Gora, “Double-take: Rembrandt’s c.1631 ‘Old Man with a Gold Chain’ and its highly exacting copy,” Hamilton Kerr Institute Bulletin 10
Christine Slottved Kimbriel and Louis Newman with contributions from Kamila Gora, “Double-take: Rembrandt’s c.1631 ‘Old Man with a Gold Chain’ and its highly exacting copy,” Hamilton Kerr Institute Bulletin 10 (2024), pp. 127-136, fig. 2.
Thu
22
Jan
exhibition
Raleigh, North Carolina Museun of Art, Rembrandt Paintings in America, October 1, 2011-January 1, 2012; Cleveland Museum of Art, February 1, 2012-May 1, 2012; Minneapolis Institute of Arts, June 24, 2012-September 16...
Raleigh, North Carolina Museun of Art, Rembrandt Paintings in America, October 1, 2011-January 1, 2012; Cleveland Museum of Art, February 1, 2012-May 1, 2012; Minneapolis Institute of Arts, June 24, 2012-September 16, 2012 [Minneapolis only].
Thu
22
Jan
exhibition
Boston, Museum of Fine Arts, Rembrandt’s Journey: Painter, draughtsman, etcher, 2003/2004, no. 30, traveled to Art Institute of Chicago
Boston, Museum of Fine Arts, Rembrandt’s Journey: Painter, draughtsman, etcher, 2003/2004, no. 30, traveled to Art Institute of Chicago
Thu
22
Jan
note
A[lan] C[hong] in Rembrandt Creates Rembrandt. Art and Ambition in Leiden, 1629-1631, exh. cat., Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, 2000, p. 123, under no. 17, fig. 17a.
A[lan] C[hong] in Rembrandt Creates Rembrandt. Art and Ambition in Leiden, 1629-1631, exh. cat., Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, 2000, p. 123, under no. 17, fig. 17a.
Thu
22
Jan
note
Ludwig Münz, “Rembrandts Bild von Mutter und Vater,”Jahrbuch der Kunsthistorischen Sammlungen in Wien n.s. 14
Ludwig Münz, “Rembrandts Bild von Mutter und Vater,”Jahrbuch der Kunsthistorischen Sammlungen in Wien n.s. 14 (1953), p. 166.
Thu
22
Jan
exhibition
New York, Wildenstein and Co., Loan Exhibition of Rembrandt, Under the High Patronage of His Excellency, Dr. Eelco N. van Kleffens, Ambassador of the Netherlands, for the Benefit of the Public Education Association, 1950, no. 2.
New York, Wildenstein and Co., Loan Exhibition of Rembrandt, Under the High Patronage of His Excellency, Dr. Eelco N. van Kleffens, Ambassador of the Netherlands, for the Benefit of the Public Education Association, 1950, no. 2.
Thu
22
Jan
note
Jakob Rosenberg, Rembrandt, Cambridge, Mass., 1948, pp. 43, 256, fig. 60.; rev. ed. Rembrandt, Life and Work, London, 1964, p. 71, fig. 60.
Jakob Rosenberg, Rembrandt, Cambridge, Mass., 1948, pp. 43, 256, fig. 60.; rev. ed. Rembrandt, Life and Work, London, 1964, p. 71, fig. 60.
Thu
22
Jan
note
Horst Gerson, Rembrandt, The Complete Edition of the Paintings by A. Bredius, rev. ed. of Bredius 1937, London, 1971, p. 554, no. 81, fig. 81.
Horst Gerson, Rembrandt, The Complete Edition of the Paintings by A. Bredius, rev. ed. of Bredius 1937, London, 1971, p. 554, no. 81, fig. 81.
Thu
22
Jan
note
A[braham] Bredius, the Paintings of Rembrandt, Vienna and London, 1937, p. 5, no. 81, fig. 81.
A[braham] Bredius, the Paintings of Rembrandt, Vienna and London, 1937, p. 5, no. 81, fig. 81.
Thu
22
Jan
note
“Rembrandt and His Circle, Chicago,” The American Magazine of Art 29
“Rembrandt and His Circle, Chicago,” The American Magazine of Art 29 (1936), p. 49.
Thu
22
Jan
note
“Chicago Art Institute to Hold Rembrandt Exhibition,” Art News 34, 10
“Chicago Art Institute to Hold Rembrandt Exhibition,” Art News 34, 10 (1935), p. 3.
Thu
22
Jan
exhibition
Art Institute of Chicago, Paintings, Drawings, and Etchings by Rembrandt and his Circle, 1935/1936, traveled to Worcester Art Museum
Art Institute of Chicago, Paintings, Drawings, and Etchings by Rembrandt and his Circle, 1935/1936, traveled to Worcester Art Museum
Thu
22
Jan
note
“Will Show Rembrandt with His Pupils’ Work," Art Digest 10
“Will Show Rembrandt with His Pupils’ Work," Art Digest 10 (1 Dec. 1935), p. 7.
Thu
22
Jan
exhibition
Art Institute of Chicago, A Century of Progress, 1934, no. 104
Art Institute of Chicago, A Century of Progress, 1934, no. 104
Thu
22
Jan
exhibition
Art Institute of Chicago, A Century of Progress, 1933, no. 74
Art Institute of Chicago, A Century of Progress, 1933, no. 74
Thu
22
Jan
note
Art Institute of Chicago, A Guide to the Paintings in the Permanent Collection, Chicago, 1932, pp. 17-19, ill.
Art Institute of Chicago, A Guide to the Paintings in the Permanent Collection, Chicago, 1932, pp. 17-19, ill.
Thu
22
Jan
note
Alan Burroughs, “New Illustrations of Rembrandt’s Style,” Burlington Magazine 59
Alan Burroughs, “New Illustrations of Rembrandt’s Style,” Burlington Magazine 59 (1931), p. 4, pl. IIB (x-radiograph detail).
Thu
22
Jan
note
Wilhelm R. Valentiner, Rembrandt Paintings in America, New York, 1931, n. pag, , no. 5, ill.
Wilhelm R. Valentiner, Rembrandt Paintings in America, New York, 1931, n. pag, , no. 5, ill.
Thu
22
Jan
note
Josephine Walther, “The First Great Rembrandt Exhibition in America,” The Antiquarian, 14, 5
Josephine Walther, “The First Great Rembrandt Exhibition in America,” The Antiquarian, 14, 5 (1930), p. 82.
Thu
22
Jan
note
Walter Heil, “Die Rembrandt-Ausstellung in Detroit,” Pantheon 6
Walter Heil, “Die Rembrandt-Ausstellung in Detroit,” Pantheon 6 (1930), p. 380.
Thu
22
Jan
note
John C. van Dyck, Rembrandt and his School. A Critical Study of the Master and his Pupils with a New Assignment of their Pictures, New York, 1923, p. 111.
John C. van Dyck, Rembrandt and his School. A Critical Study of the Master and his Pupils with a New Assignment of their Pictures, New York, 1923, p. 111.
Thu
22
Jan
note
Art Institute of Chicago Annual Report, Chicago, 1922, ill. p. 50.
Art Institute of Chicago Annual Report, Chicago, 1922, ill. p. 50.
Thu
22
Jan
note
Art Institute of Chicago, Handbook of Sculpture, Architecture and Paintings, Chicago, 1922, p. 65, no. 764.
Art Institute of Chicago, Handbook of Sculpture, Architecture and Paintings, Chicago, 1922, p. 65, no. 764.
Thu
22
Jan
note
bequeathed, 1922.
bequeathed, 1922.
Thu
22
Jan
note
sold to Mrs....
sold to Mrs. W. W. Kimball, (died 1921), Chicago, by 1914 [Valentiner 1914]
Thu
22
Jan
note
Art Institute of Chicago, Handbook of Sculpture, Architecture, Paintings, and Drawings, Chicago, 1920, p. 60, no. 764.
Art Institute of Chicago, Handbook of Sculpture, Architecture, Paintings, and Drawings, Chicago, 1920, p. 60, no. 764.
Fri
22
Jan
note
Ben Broos, “Rembrandt and his picturesque universe. The artist’s collection as a source of inspiration” in Rembrandt’s Treasures, exh. cat., Amsterdam, Museum Het Rembrandthuis, 1999, p. 124, fig. 83.
Ben Broos, “Rembrandt and his picturesque universe. The artist’s collection as a source of inspiration” in Rembrandt’s Treasures, exh. cat., Amsterdam, Museum Het Rembrandthuis, 1999, p. 124, fig. 83.
Wed
22
Jan
note
Ernst van de Wetering, Rembrandt. The Painter at Work, Amsterdam, 1997, p. fig. 13.
Ernst van de Wetering, Rembrandt. The Painter at Work, Amsterdam, 1997, p. fig. 13.
Sun
22
Jan
note
Walter Liedtke in Rembrandt/Not Rembrandt in The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Aspects of Connoisseurship, exh. cat., New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1995, vol. 2, p. 44, under no. 2.
Walter Liedtke in Rembrandt/Not Rembrandt in The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Aspects of Connoisseurship, exh. cat., New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1995, vol. 2, p. 44, under no. 2.
Sun
22
Jan
note
Walter Liedtke, “Rembrandt’s ‘Man in a gorget and plumed cap’ in J. Paul Getty Museum,” Burlington Magazine 137
Walter Liedtke, “Rembrandt’s ‘Man in a gorget and plumed cap’ in J. Paul Getty Museum,” Burlington Magazine 137 (1995), p. 460.
Tue
22
Jan
note
Ernst van de Wetering, “The invisible Rembrandt: the Results of technical and Scientific Examination” in Rembrandt: The Master and his Workshop, exh. cat., Berlin, Altes Museum, 1991
Ernst van de Wetering, “The invisible Rembrandt: the Results of technical and Scientific Examination” in Rembrandt: The Master and his Workshop, exh. cat., Berlin, Altes Museum, 1991 (traveled to Amsterdam and London), p. 92, fig. 113.
Mon
22
Jan
note
Walter Liedtke, “Dutch Paintings in America. The Collectors and their Ideals” in Great Dutch Paintings in America, exh.cat,, The Hague, Mauritshuis, 1990, p. 35.
Walter Liedtke, “Dutch Paintings in America. The Collectors and their Ideals” in Great Dutch Paintings in America, exh.cat,, The Hague, Mauritshuis, 1990, p. 35.
Fri
22
Jan
note
Art Institute of Chicago Master Paintings, Chicago 1988, ed., James N. Wood and Katharine Lee, Chicago, 1988, p. 30, ill.
Art Institute of Chicago Master Paintings, Chicago 1988, ed., James N. Wood and Katharine Lee, Chicago, 1988, p. 30, ill.
Wed
22
Jan
note
Peter C. Sutton, A Guide to Dutch Art in America, Grand Rapids, 1986, pp. 49-50, fig. 66.
Peter C. Sutton, A Guide to Dutch Art in America, Grand Rapids, 1986, pp. 49-50, fig. 66.
Tue
22
Jan
note
Gary Schwartz, Rembrandt, his life, his paintings, New York, 1985, p. 65, fig. 54.
Gary Schwartz, Rembrandt, his life, his paintings, New York, 1985, p. 65, fig. 54.
Fri
22
Jan
note
Stichting Foundation Rembrandt Research Project, A Corpus of Rembrandt Paintings, vol. 1, 1625-1631, ed. J. Bruyn, B. Haak, S.H. Levie, P.J.J. van Thiel, and E. van de Wetering, The Hague, Boston and London, 1982, pp. 391-7, ill., figs. 1, ...
Stichting Foundation Rembrandt Research Project, A Corpus of Rembrandt Paintings, vol. 1, 1625-1631, ed. J. Bruyn, B. Haak, S.H. Levie, P.J.J. van Thiel, and E. van de Wetering, The Hague, Boston and London, 1982, pp. 391-7, ill., figs. 1, 2-6, no. A42.
Fri
22
Jan
note
gekeerd naar den linker Schouder, en gedekt met een Fluweelen Muts, voorzien met een groote Pluim....
gekeerd naar den linker Schouder, en gedekt met een Fluweelen Muts, voorzien met een groote Pluim. Zynde zeer helder, krachtig en uitvoorig op Paneel geschilderd. Hoog 35, breed 30 duim”(The head of an old man, knee-length and life size, wearing a dark cloak and a golden chain with a medallion around his neck. The head is seen from the front and to one side, turned toward the left shoulder, and covered with a velvet cap with a large plume. 90 x 77.1 cm) [For the identification of the consignor at this sale, see Rembrandt Research Project 1982, with evidence that the height of the picture was later slightly reduced]. Matthew Piers Watt Boulton, Tew Park, Oxfordshire
Mon
22
Jan
note
J. Bruyn, “Een onderzoek naar 17de-eeuwse schilderijformaten, voornamelijk in Noord-Nederland,” Oud Holland 93
J. Bruyn, “Een onderzoek naar 17de-eeuwse schilderijformaten, voornamelijk in Noord-Nederland,” Oud Holland 93 (1979), p. 108.
Sun
22
Jan
note
Art Institute of Chicago, 100 Masterpieces, Chicago, 1978, p. 20.
Art Institute of Chicago, 100 Masterpieces, Chicago, 1978, p. 20.
Sat
22
Jan
note
offered for sale Galerie Manzi, Joyant, Paris, 17-18 June, 1913, no....
offered for sale Galerie Manzi, Joyant, Paris, 17-18 June, 1913, no. 60, as Portrait du père de Rembrandt, bought in and returned to Julius Böhler in July 1913 [letter from Julius Böhler to Susan Wise, September 20, 1977 in curatorial file]
Sat
22
Jan
note
in a letter of June 14, 1977, Julius Böhler noted that Reinhardt was the American representative for their firm]
in a letter of June 14, 1977, Julius Böhler noted that Reinhardt was the American representative for their firm]
Wed
22
Jan
note
Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn, ed. V. Loewinson-Lessing, Leningrad, 1975, n. pag., under no. 2.
Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn, ed. V. Loewinson-Lessing, Leningrad, 1975, n. pag., under no. 2.
Wed
22
Jan
note
Giovanni Arpino and Paolo Lecaldano, Rembrandt, Milan, 1969, n. pag., no. 45, ill.
Giovanni Arpino and Paolo Lecaldano, Rembrandt, Milan, 1969, n. pag., no. 45, ill.
Mon
22
Jan
note
Horst K. Gerson, Rembrandt Paintings, Amsterdam, 1968, pp. 18, 30, no. 46, fig. 46.
Horst K. Gerson, Rembrandt Paintings, Amsterdam, 1968, pp. 18, 30, no. 46, fig. 46.
Sat
22
Jan
note
Kurt Bauch, Rembrandt Gemälde, Berlin, 1966, p. 9, no. 129, fig. 129.
Kurt Bauch, Rembrandt Gemälde, Berlin, 1966, p. 9, no. 129, fig. 129.
Fri
22
Jan
note
Claude Roger Marx, Rembrandt, [Paris], [1960], p. 124, no. 22, ill.
Claude Roger Marx, Rembrandt, [Paris], [1960], p. 124, no. 22, ill.
© Artist-Unknown. All rights reserved.