On display until Saturday June 24 in Amsterdam, two small paintings by Rembrandt – pieces “ exceptional by the Dutch master which had not been presented to the public for 200 years – will be auctioned on July 4 by Christie’s during a sale organized in London.
Spotted by the same auction house during an appraisal of a British private collection carried out a few years ago, these two small portraits, oval paintings 20 cm high, are considered ” one of the most exciting discoveries we have made in the Old Master field in recent years says Henry Pettifer, international vice president responsible for Old Master paintings at Christie’s. These works would be among the last Rembrandt portraits to remain in private collections.
Rembrandt at Christie’s Amsterdam. Just a few days on view. It is not crowded because there is no public announcement. You can talk with the experts and there are also some other 17th century masters. Personally I really like the Michael Sweerts. pic.twitter.com/d2izTaDe7p — Pieter Voogt (@voogt_pieter), through Twitter
Executed in 1635, the paintings represent Jan Willemsz van der Pluym and his wife Jaapgen Carels, contemporaries and relatives of the painter. ” Painted with a deep sense of humanity, these are among the smallest and most intimate portraits of Rembrandt we know of, adding something new to the understanding of this undisputedly brilliant portrait painter. said Henry Pettifer.
The lot’s estimate is between £5 million and £8 million. Paintings by Rembrandt – undisputed master of chiaroscuro and one of the greatest figures in art history – are among the most expensive works on the art market.
Portrait of a man with arms Akimbo currently holds its auction record, fetching £20,201,250 at a Christie’s sale.
But the highest transaction for this artist was made more recently by the Rijksmuseum. With the support of the Dutch State and The Rembrandt Association, the museum has acquired a self-portrait from 1636, the standard bearer, for the exceptional sum of 175 million euros. She places the painting among only a handful of artworks in the world to have sold for over $150 million.
Photo of the article: “The Night Watch”, monumental canvas by Rembrandt, at the Rijksmuseum, March 31, 2023, whose restoration, which began in 2022, is being carried out under the eyes of the public.