Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn (1606-1669) Abraham... Lot 40

Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn (1606-1669) Abraham Francen, apothecary. About 1657. Etching, drypoint and burin. 210x158. Bartsch, Hollstein 273; Hind 291; Bjorklund-Barnard 57-2; New Hollstein 301. A fine proof on ivory laid paper, from the 10th state (of 12), with extensive burin work, notably on the wall, on the triptych and on the objects on the table, around the window and before further burin work on these elements, as well as on the trees in the window opening, trimmed to the subject. The escaped line on the left cheek is still visible. Large russet halo visible in the lower left corner on verso. Small inscription in blue ballpoint pen on verso. "Abraham Francen, an apothecary born in 1613, was also a passionate art lover and collector. A close friend of Rembrandt, he was one of the artist's most loyal supporters during the period when Rembrandt was in trouble with the Court of the Insolvables. [...] It is likely that Rembrandt engraved this portrait as a token of friendship, if not gratitude. [...] The choice of an oblong format - highly unusual for an isolated portrait - gives it a very special character. It is possible that Rembrandt adopted this layout following the example of Lorenzo Lotto, who, at the end of the 16th century, reversed the vertical portraits of the classical Renaissance. Francen is shown seated at a table, indulging in his favorite occupation, the appreciation of some work of art. An open album in front of him, a statuette of Confucius and a skull and crossbones testify to the seriousness of this art lover's preoccupations. The back wall is adorned with a small landscape and a large triptych with the Crucifixion in the center; as it bears more than one resemblance to the Three Crosses the artist had just engraved, this collector may well have been in possession of this work. Abraham Francen seems to embody the perfect man of taste of 17th-century Holland, and the portrait here borders on the genre scene." (S. de Bussierre, et al, Rembrandt, eaux-fortes, collection Dutuit, Paris, Petit Palais, 1986, p. 215).