Etching, drypoint and burin. 1647.
Size: 241 x 177 mm. Surface: 427 cm2.
Signed and dated, in the lower right corner: Rembrandt. f. 1647
Copper Plate
The plate was not part of the collections of De Jonghe, De Haan or Humber and is probably not in existence.
Rarity of impressions
In auctions (2000-2025): common Early: 18 ⦿⦿⦿⊙⊙⊙
In collections (New Hollstein – 2013): rare Early: 51 ⦿⦿⦿⦿⊙⊙
Catalogue Nowell-Usticke (1967): R-, a very uncommon and desirable plate ⦿⦿⦿⊙⊙⊙
Subject/Sitter
Ephraim Hezekiah Bonus (or Bueno) was a well-known Jewish doctor and writer, born in Portugal in 1599. He moved to Amsterdam in 1624 and supported the publications by Menasseh Ben Israel, which is probably the link to Rembrandt. At about the same time as this portrait was made, Jan Lievens also made an etched portrait (Bartsch 56) of Bonus. A comparison shows that Lievens portrait is rather formal and strict whereas Rembrandt uses a more unusual position. He seems to have caught the doctor in a moment of reflection. Rudi Fuchs considers Rembrandt’s version as showing a real Jewish person, whereas the Lievens version is a standard portrait.
Related
This is the only etched portrait for which Rembrandt apparently made a preparatory painting (Corpus VI 215, Bredius 252, now in the Rijksmuseum).
Copies
There is a copy in reverse by Claude-Henri Watelet, signed and dated (1758, 216 x 163 mm).
Attributions and reviews
The etching is considered as special by Bartsch, Seidlitz, Coppier, Rovinsky, Wilson and Blanc.
The plate is not by Rembrandt according to Singer.
States
All authors list two states, both contemporary.
In the 1st state (NH, WB, R741) the ring appears to be black (with burr). There are white highlights on the strap around the right shoulder and on the lower part of the cloak.
In the 2nd state (NH, WB, R742) the burr is removed from the ring, which now appears white. Highlights on the strap and the cloak are shaded out. There is shading added to the banisters.
Prints and collections
Only three impressions of the 1st state are known, in the Rijksmuseum, in the British Museum (R741) and in the Louvre (Rothschild Collection).
Of the 2nd state three editions were printed, the first edition appeared almost at the same time as the 1st state (HD), the two later ones possibly not by Rembrandt.
Watermarks
In both states: Basilisk (1640-1647)
In the 2nd state: Strasbourg lily (c. 1647).
Literature
H 226, BB 47-A, G 258, M 226, Mz 69, RA 741-742, Cl 275, W 280, Bl 172, Du 256, CD 183 Fuchs 1968, p. 41; Dickey 2004 2004, p. 137ff; De ‘joodse’ Rembrandt 2006, p. 31; Hinterding 2008 p. 498ff; Bikker 2019, p. 135;
