International Art Auction

June 0914, 2018
Auction begins to close at 2:00 pm ET

Online Auction
LOT 364

Lot 364

Follower of Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1659)

Follower of Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1659)
Lot 364 Details
Follower of Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1659), Dutch

“PHILOSOPH” (PHILOSOPHER) (AFTER THE SEPIA DRAWING “OLD MAN WITH CLASPED HANDS, SEATED IN AN ARMCHAIR”)

Oil on oak panel; an indistinctly handwritten and indistinctly signed statement dated “1897” affixed to the verso, an unknown red wax Serbian seal depicting a divided shield with the upper half depicting a saber, the bottom half being indistinct, a helmet surmounts the shield with eagle crest to the verso
10.25 x 8 in — 26 x 20.3 cm

Estimate $4,000-$6,000

Realised: $18,000
Price Includes Buyer's Premium ?

Lot Report

Provenance:

Collection of Mr. Jevrem Acimovic, eminent Serbian Politician and deputy at the end of the 19th century/early 20th century;
Gifted to his niece, Darinka Isailovic (nee Jovanovic), Belgrade, Yugoslavia prior to coming to Canada in 1957;
Gifted to her daughter, Mira Jordan, Niagara Falls, Ontario in 1957 as stated in the accompanying Deed of Gift dated January 24th, 1969 executed by Djordje I. Nikolic, Doctor of Law, Belgrade, Yugoslavia;
Collection of Mira Jordan (married Giorge Jordan) Jordan’s Color Lab, Niagara Falls, Ontario;
With Bartolo Bracaglia, Restorer of Paintings, New York on October 18, 1960 (copy of document) where he “Received two small paintings for restoration/ Att. Bassano & to Rembrandt” while with Mira Jordan

Literature:

Roger-Marx, “Rembrandt”, p. 166, fig. 47 and pgs. 129-130

Note:

The accompanying Deed of Gift (translated from the original “Serbe-Croat” language, at Belgrade, March 4th, 1971) reads:

“ - the picture, ‘Philosoph’, a wood work, with the frame, of a size of 8 x 10 inches, Vienna, 1869” (There is no indication on the front or back of this lot or documents supporting the meaning of the Vienna date)

Throughout its history in the family collection, Mrs. Jordan received letters of intent to purchase “Philosopher” from Old Master connoisseurs, New York art galleries and print publisher’s of the time. In February 1973, Koppel Colour Photo Process in Hawthorne, New Jersey wished to purchase “Philosopher” for publication in an art series of Old Masters. In another intent to purchase the portrait in January 1974, a New York art dealer referred a collector based on a colour photograph alone. In an 1973 appraisal from the Thiele Gallery in Englewood, New Jersey, Irving Thiele authenticates the unsigned portrait he calls “Seated Scholar” as being “executed by Rembrandt” dating circa 1600. His conclusion is based on the drawing illustrated in Roger-Marx’s monograph “Rembrandt” (p. 166, fig. 47 and p. 129-130); a black and white photograph of this drawing accompanies this lot.

In our opinion, this portrait is a later work by a Follower of Rembrandt. The oak panel appears to date to the 18th Century. The portrait is a shortened view after Rembrandt’s drawing: “Old Man with Clasped Hands, Seated in an Armchair” (“Old Man Seated in an Armchair, Full Length”), circa 1631 now housed in the Kupferstichkabinett at the Staatliche Museen Preussischer Kulturbesitz in Berlin, Germany.

CONDITION DETAILS

For condition information please contact the specialist.

LOT 364
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About Condition Ratings

  • 5 Stars: Excellent - No discernable damage, flaws or imperfections
  • 4 Stars: Very Good - Minor flaws or imperfections visible only under close inspection using specialised instruments or black light
  • 3 Stars: Good - Minor flaws visible upon inspection under standard lighting
  • 2 Stars: Fair - Exhibits flaws or damage that may draw the eye under standard lighting
  • 1 Star: Poor - Flaws or damage immediately apparent under standard lighting (examples: missing components, rips, broken glass, damaged surfaces, etc.)

Note: Condition ratings and condition details are the subjective opinions of our specialists and should be used as a guide only. Waddington’s uses due care when preparing condition details, however, our staff are not professional restorers or conservators. Condition details and reports are not warranties and each lot is sold “as is” in accordance with the buyer’s terms and conditions of sale. In all cases the prospective purchaser is responsible for inspecting the property themselves prior to placing a bid.