Alphonse Leroy’s aquatint, “Portrait of a Man Wearing a Hat”, c1860, after Rembrandt

Alphonse Leroy (aka Alphonse Alexandre Leroy) (1820–1902)

“Portrait of a Man Wearing a Hat” (aka “Portrait d'un Homme Coiffé d'un Chapeau”), c1860, after a drawing by Rembrandt (1606–1669) (aka Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn) that was formerly in the collection of Émile Norblin (1821–1880)—grandson of the artist Jean-Pierre Norblin (1745-1830) (see cat. no. 33 in Paul Guermonprez and José Lothe’s [2007] “Alphonse Leroy Graveur: 1820–1902” [p.138]). Note that I have been unable to locate this drawing in Peter Schatborn & Erik Hinterding’s (2019) “Rembrandt: The Complete Drawings and Etchings” (Taschen)—but there is a good chance that I may have missed seeing it and my apologies if this is the case—nevertheless, there is a painting (as opposed to a drawing) from the School of Rembrandt, “Vieillard à Barbe, Coiffé d'un Chapeau” (“Old Man with Beard, Wearing a Hat”), 1625/1650, that is comparable to this aquatint in the collection of the Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris, Petit Palais (see https://collections.louvre.fr/en/ark:/53355/cl010064891).

Aquatint on chine collé printed in bistre colour ink on heavy wove paper with wide margins as published.

Size: (sheet) 55.5 x 42.6 cm; (plate) 28 x 21.8 cm; (chine collé/image borderline) 20.5 x 17.2 cm.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: “Dessiné par Rembrandt. Gravé par Alphonse Leroy.”

State i (of ii) before the erasing of the lettered text and the addition of the names of the artists in capitals below the corners of the image.

Guermonprez & Lothe 33 (Paul Guermonprez & José Lothe [eds] 2007, “Alphonse Leroy Graveur: 1820–1902: éléments biographiques et catalogue de l'oeuvre grave”, Editions Héritage Architectural, Paris, p. 138, cat. no. 33).

Condition: a strong and well-printed (near faultless) impression with generously wide margins. Beyond minor surface marks, the sheet is in an excellent condition with no tears, holes, folds, significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this superb aquatint replicating the subtleties of what the title advises is a drawing by Rembrandt—to my eyes this print is a tour de force accomplishment in the very demanding medium of aquatint—for the total cost of AU$259 (currently US$172.18/EUR159.98/GBP140.77 at the time of posting this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries.

If you are interested in purchasing this amazing first state aquatint seldom seen on the art market, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.