A Supplicant, c. 1630-1640s
Etchingexpand_more
Given in honor of Kristin Lenaburgexpand_more 2017.86.1
Not on Viewexpand_more
This etching apparently shows an unidentified literary or historical scene, possibly from the Bible. An old man kneels pleading his case, before a high official who sits on a throne. A young man in a feathered cap and a bent-over old women witness the action. It is the work of Pieter Rodermondt, an artist from The Hague who was keenly interested in the art of Rembrandt.
The Supplicant employs several Rembrandtesque devices. The figures are animated and dressed in exotic clothing. With cocked heads and leaning postures they seem to be considering a knotty issue. The artist freed the men from static poses by drawing them with broken contours and selectively allowing their forms to dissolve into light. Strong chiaroscuro contrasts heighten the drama. The architecture is like a stage set, arbitrary, and not convincingly logical. Though not the breed that Rembrandt normally depicted, a small dog enlivens the foreground and adds to the sense of space.
Details
- Title
- A Supplicant
- Artist Life
- 1600 - 1654
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2017.86.1
- Provenance
- Private collection (unidentified collector's stamp, not in Lugt). Sale, Skinner’s, Boston, 2017, part of a scrap album to Bergquist; [James A . Bergquist, Newton Center, Mass., 2017; given to Mia]
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Hollstein 4 ii/ii Bartsch 78 Rovinski El. 447
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These 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.