REMBRANDT HARMENSZ. VAN RIJN | Study of the head and clasped hands of a young man as Christ in prayer

The following condition report is provided by Sarah Walden who is an external specialist and not an employee of Sotheby's: Rembrandt van Rijn. Study of the Head of a Young Man. This painting is on an oak panel, which appears to have always remained stable. A cradle was added behind probably quite early in the last century, perhaps with some conservation in preparation for exhibitions in America in 1936 -1938. A marginal crack at the top edge is backed by one of the bars of the cradle, but shows only minimal movement in the panel over time. The recent restoration may also reflect exhibitions in Paris at the Louvre, and in Detroit, in 2011-12. The fine impasto is concentrated in the face, with some descriptive highlights in the hair. The more delicate flowing brushwork lower down is beautifully intact overall as well, with dramatically sketched hands clenched. Occasional small retouchings can be seen under ultra violet light in the darker central drapery in the shadow of the head. The base edge was originally left scarcely finished, but a few minute retouches are just visible under UV in a few places around the other outer edges, with one or two elsewhere in the outer background. The top left corner may have had some wear in the distant past. A few retouchings from the recent restoration can be seen under ultra violet light including just below the mouth and around the upper outline of the head, where original pentimenti appear. The deepest darks have had a few light touches for instance down the left edge of the hair, and in the curls of the longer hair where the vulnerable darks have been disturbed and where fragile ageing can occasionally be seen. However the strength of the brushwork overall is remarkably finely preserved, suggesting that the historic background of the painting was secure and peaceful. This report was not done under laboratory conditions.
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