The Goldsmith, 1655
Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijnexpand_more
Etching and drypoint on gampi paperexpand_more
Gift of Elizabeth, Julie, and Catherine Andrus in memory of John and Marion Andrusexpand_more 2015.93.23
Not on Viewexpand_more
This statue is an allegory of Charity. The Dutch hammered on this virtue throughout the 1600s, even posting public donation boxes for the poor. Rembrandt used the theme to comment on the intimate connection between artists and their craft. Wearing a craftsman’s apron, the smith slowly adds his finishing touches, in no hurry to have his creation leave his shop. He shows his Charity group the tenderness of a parent, and Charity gives to him the rewards of his creativity. Rembrandt printed this miraculous little work on a golden, slightly iridescent Japanese paper made from the gampi plant. He apparently got hold of nearly all of the rare gampi paper that reached Holland in the 1640s.
Details
- Title
- The Goldsmith
- Artist Life
- 1606–1669
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2015.93.23
- Provenance
- Tristram Carlyon, Esq. (1877-1957) (his Rembrandt sale, P. & G. Colnaghi, London, possibly in late 1950s, stock no. R557). John E. Andrus III, Wayzata, Minn.; by descent to his daughters, Elizabeth, Katie, and Julie; gave to MIA, 2015. Earlier provenances have been gathered, but further research will increase our knowledge of their histories.
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Bartsch 123; Hind 285; New Hollstein 289 i/iii
- Curator Approved
This record is from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator, so may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know
Zoom in on the left to the detail you'd like to save. Click 'Save detail' and wait until the image updates. Right click the image to 'save image as' or copy link, or click the image to open in a new tab.