Etching. 1628. Size: 85 x 72, later 63 x 64 mm. Surface: 61, later 40 cm2.
From the 2nd state signed with a monogram and dated, to the left of the head: RHL 1628 (the ‘2’ reversed) Nowell-Usticke:
Copper Plate
The copperplate may have been in the sale by Clement de Jonghe (1679, as 69 een oudwijfs tronitjen), but it was not part of any of the other early collections or sales and is probably not in existence anymore.
Rarity of impressions
In auctions (2000-2025): extremely rare Early: 5 ⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⊙
In collections (New Hollstein – 2013): very rare Early: 41 ⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⊙
Catalogue Nowell-Usticke (1967): RR+, a rare small head, nearly always poorly printed ⦿⦿⦿⦿⊙⊙
Description
Rembrandt’s mother, Neeltgen van Zuytbrouck, died in 1640. Although there is no certainty about her identity, it seems that Rembrandt has pictured this model in at least six etchings and several paintings. The reference to Rembrandt’s mother dates to the inventory-list of Clemens de Jonghe of 1679, ten years after Rembrandt’s death. Since the same model appears in several works by Jan Lievens, Rembrandt’s companion during his training in Leiden, it has been suggested that she could also be Lievens’ grandmother, who was around sixty at that time.
Related
Rembrandt made a drawing (Benesch 55, Old woman seen from the front, now in a private collection) which is probably a preparatory study for the etching, although it shows a bit more of the cap. There is a painting of 1630 in the Krupp Collection in Essen (Bredius 64) of the same subject.
Münz also points at the prophetess Hannah in the painting dated ca. 1628 The Presentation in the Temple, in the Kunsthalle in Hamburg (Corpus A12).
Copies
NH lists two copies in reverse. Copy A is attributed to Samuel van Hoogstraten (79 x 63 mm). Copy B is by Costantino Cumano (59 x 69 mm, WB).
Attributions and reviews
The etching is considered as special by Bartsch and De Claussin.
The plate is not by Rembrandt according to Singer.
States
All authors list two states. Nowell-Usticke considers the 1st state to be a trial proof.
In the 1st state (NH, WB, R923/trial proof A NU) the hood is only sketched.
In the 2nd state (NH, WB, R924/1st state NU) the plate is cut to 63 x 64 mm, the hood is completed, the signature is added.
Prints and collections
Of the 1st state only two impressions are known. The one in the Rijksmuseum shows the rest of the cap in black chalk, possibly as an exercise for the 2nd state. The other impression is in the Bibliothèque Nationale. Of the 2nd state at least two editions were printed, in the early 30’s
Watermarks
In the 2nd state: Arms of Württemberg (c 1634-36) and Strasbourg lily (1635).
Literature
H 2, BB 28-B, G 320, M 6, Mz 83, RA 923-924, Cl 342, W 347, Bl 192, Du 340, CD 2 Rembrandt’s Women 2001, p. 66; Hinterding 2008 p. 591ff; Baas 2015, p. 72-73;
