The original, complete copperplate was initially owned by an unknown person in Holland and sold around 1775 to the painter and etcher John Greenwood, who resold it the same year to Capt. William Baillie (1723-1810). He heavily reworked and adapted the plate and printed about 100 copies of it. He then cut the plate in four pieces. Separate prints of these were made and published by Boydell. Each individually quite interesting prints. None of the plates has survived.
Rarity of impressions
All four fragments are very rare and seldom seen in auctions.
In collections (New Hollstein – 2013): Late: 21
Catalogue Nowell-Usticke: The four separate pieces into which the plate was finally cut, are quite rare and good looking.
Description
The Baillie fragments In the 18th century Capt. Baillie cut up the plate in four separate fragments of which impressions were published by Boyden.
A1 is the central part, with the head of Christ (278 x 190 mm). A2 is the same part, now arched.
B is the man in the lower left corner (141 x 75 mm).
C shows the figures leaning on the wall on the left (54 x 75 mm).
D shows the ass and the camel at right (190 x 122 mm).
All four prints are very rare.
Fragment C New Hollstein: 4th state of IV/White-Boon: 2nd state of II
A somewhat greyish impression of a fragment, after the cutting of the plate by Capt. Baillie.
Sheet 73/74 x 95/96 mm, platemark 54 x 74 mm (40 cm2), wide margins of 9 to 11 mm all around (+78%).
No watermark, no chain lines visible.
Exhibitions
The Rotunda at Exchange Square, Hong Kong, January 2008; Rembrandt in Zwart-Wit, Westfries Museum (Hoorn), Het Markiezenhof (Bergen op Zoom), Stedelijk Museum Zutphen, Het Hannemahuis (Harlingen), Museum Gouda, Jan ten Horne Museum (Weert), Stadsmuseum Harderwijk, March 2013-August 2015; Stedelijk Museum Vianen, October 2017 – January 2018; Rembrandt in Black & White, Schloß Britz (Berlin), Bozar Expo (Brussels), Chateau des Penthes (Geneva), November 2015- October 2016;
