Louis Surugue, “The Philosopher in Contemplation”, 1754, after Salomon Koninck

Louis Surugue (c.1686–1762)

“The Philosopher in Contemplation” (aka “Le Philosophe en Contemplation”), 1754, after a painting by Salomon Koninck (aka Salomon Coninck; Salomon Koning; Salomon Konink) (1609–1656) in the Musée du Louvre, Paris (inv. no. 1741), formerly attributed to Rembrandt (aka Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn) (1606–1669), published in Paris by Louis Surugue with royal privilege (as inscribed in the plate).

Etching with engraving on fine laid paper backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 27.1 x 29.5cm; (plate) 25.4 x 28.1cm; (image borderline) 21.4 x 26.2cm.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “Rembrant Pinxit.”; (left of centre) “LE PHILOSOPHE/ Gravé d'aprés le Tableau Original de Rembrant Peint sur/ Tiré du Cabinet de Monsieur le Comte de Vence/ A Paris chez L. Surugue rue des Noyers attenant”; (centre) [Comte de Vence coat-of-arms]; (right of centre) “EN CONTEMPLATION/ bois haut de 10 pouces 3 lignes sur 12 et demi de large/ Marechal de Camp des Armées du Roy./  and "A Paris chez L. Surugue, Graveur du Roy./ le Magazin de Papier vis à vis S^t. Yves avec Privil. du Roy”; (right) “Lud.^us Surugue Sculp.1754.”

Nagler 54 (G.K. Nagler 1847, “Neues allgemeines Künstler-Lexicon oder Nachrichten von dem Leben und den Werken der Maler, Bildhauer, Kupferstecher, Formschneider, Lithographen, Zeichner, Medailleure, Elfenbeinarbeiter, etc. Sole, G. G.– Surugue, L.”, vol. 17, Munich, E A Fleischmann, p. 572).

Note that Nagler (1847) advises that there are two related prints with the same title: (Transl.) “[cat. no.] 54) Le philosophe en contemplation, after the picture by Rembrandt in the Cabinet Vence, beautifully etched and engraved.” and “55) Le philosophe en meditation, after Rembrandt's picture from the same collection, and counterpart to the above.” (see vol. 17 p. 572).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “Interior of a Dutch vaulted room, with an old bearded philosopher sitting at a desk in front of a window at left, wearing a soft cap and fur-trimmed robe, his chin resting on right hand, a large book open before him, a curved staircase at right and a globe and crucifix beside the table; after Salomon Koninck but formerly attributed to Rembrandt; coat of arms of Comte de Vence in lower margin” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_F-6-168 [BM inv. no. F,6.168]).

Condition: a strong and well-printed life-time impression with small margins around the platemark and laid upon a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper providing wide margins. Beyond minor handling marks in the margins, the sheet is in an excellent condition with no significant stains or other issues.

I am selling this curiously wonderful composition with a spiral staircase and two opposing light sources separating a woman attending to a fireplace hearth with another lady watching her, shown on the left, and a window-lit man (the philosopher) deeply engaged in thought, shown on the right, for AU$282 in total (currently US$181.76/ EUR172.76/ GBP143.21 at the time of this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU$282) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this extraordinary etching capturing in a very graphic way the tight spaces and dark interiors that were a part of everyday life in the time of Rembrandt, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold