Rembrandt as a Shepherd with a Staff and Flute

Govert Flinck (mentioned on object), c. 1636

Depictions of shepherds and shepherdesses were popular in the 17th century. They show an idyllic world, one full of simple pleasures. Busy city dwellers could dream away while looking at such paintings. Govert Flinck here portrayed his teacher Rembrandt in the guise of a shepherd. The companion to this picture, of Rembrandt’s wife Saskia as a shepherdess, is in the museum in Braunschweig.

  • Artwork typepainting
  • Object numberSK-A-3451
  • Dimensionssupport: height 75.1 cm x width 64.4 cm x thickness 4.1 cm (incl. backboard), outer size: depth 11.2 cm (support incl. frame)
  • Physical characteristicsoil on canvas

Identification

  • Title(s)

    • Shepherd
    • Rembrandt as a Shepherd with a Staff and Flute
  • Object type

  • Object number

    SK-A-3451

  • Description

    Portret van Rembrandt als herder met staf, een fluit in de handen en een krans van bladeren op het hoofd. Een oorbel in het rechteroor. Pendant van het portret van een herderin gedateerd 1636 in Braunschweig.

  • Inscriptions / marks

    signature, lower right (formerly): ‘G. Flinck f’

  • Part of catalogue


Creation

  • Creation

    painter: Govert Flinck (mentioned on object)

  • Dating

    c. 1636

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Material and technique

  • Physical description

    oil on canvas

  • Dimensions

    • support: height 75.1 cm x width 64.4 cm x thickness 4.1 cm (incl. backboard)
    • outer size: depth 11.2 cm (support incl. frame)

This work is about

  • Person

  • Subject


Acquisition and rights

  • Acquisition

    • purchase 1942-09
    • purchase 2017-07-11
    • interne vervaardiging 1942-09
    • interne vervaardiging 2017-07-11
  • Copyright

  • Provenance

    ...; ? sale, Amsterdam, 8 October 1700, no. 48 (‘Twee Tronitjes, Herder en Herderin, van dito [Govert Flinck]’), fl. 15-5;{G. Hoet, _Catalogus of naamlyst van schilderyen, met derzelver pryzen zedert een langen reeks van jaaren zoo in Holland als op andere plaatzen in het openbaar verkogt: Benevens een verzameling van lysten van verscheyden nog in wezen zynde cabinetten_, I, The Hague 1752, p. 61.}...; ? collection August Wilhelm (1715-1781), Duke of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern, Schloss Salzdahlum;{C.N. Eberlein, _Beschreibung der herzoglichen Bilder-Gallerie zu Salzthalum_, coll. cat. Schloss Salzdahlum 1776, p. 21, no. 40 (‘Govaert Flinck. Ein bekränzter Schäfer, im Begriff, die Flöte zu blasen; und unter den Arm einen Hirtenstab. Figur bis auf den halben Leib. Auf Leinewand, 2 Fuss 2 Zoll breit, 2 Fuss 7 Zoll hoch [73 x 61 cm]’), with pendant, no. 41 (‘Das Neben-Bild. Eine Schäferin mit einem hand hält sie einen Schäferstab, und in der andern eine Rose. Auf Leinewand, 2 Fuss 2 Zoll breit, 2 Fuss 7 Zoll hoch [73 x 61 cm]’).}...; sale, Schloss Ober-Mörlen et al. [anonymous section], Frankfurt am Main (Frankfurter Kunstmesse), 7 October 1920 _sqq._, no. 420;...; sale, Berlin (Lepke), 10 May 1921, no. 162;...; the dealer T. van Wijngaarde, The Hague, 1923;{Note RMA.}...; collection A.H. de Haas, Wassenaar, 1923-41;{Note RMA.}...; the dealer François Parry, The Hague;{Note RMA.}...; from the dealer Paul Brandt, Amsterdam, fl. 31,000, to the museum, 1942; on loan to Museum Het Rembrandthuis, Amsterdam, 1971-78

  • Remarks

    Please note that this provenance was formulated with a special focus on provenance research for the years 1933-45 and could therefore be incomplete. There may be more (mostly earlier) provenance information known in the museum. In case this item has an uncertain or incomplete provenance for the years 1933-45, the Rijksmuseum welcomes information and assistance in the investigation and clarification of the provenance of all works during that era.


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