3-028-578 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

"The Gold-Weigher," etching by Rembrandt, 1870. Engraving after Rembrandt. 'Mr. Charles Blanc, author of "L'OEuvre Complet de Rembrandt," says that he has made several researches for information respecting the personage represented in this famous etching, but could find none beyond the fact that Uytenbogaert was the Receiver-General of the Dutch States...All that is known is that the name of the financier is cited more than once in the correspondence of Rembrandt with Constantin Huygens, secretary of Prince Frederick Henry, in connection with the sums due to the painter for his pictures; and it was doubtless on the occasion of the payments that Rembrandt had to take from the hands of the Receiver that their acquaintance or friendship was made...It is not necessary to give a detailed description of the etching [signed and dated 1639] with the careful reproduction by wood engraving before the reader. Rembrandt's peculiar genius and mastery of character and chiaroscuro may also, we trust, be appreciated without the inefficient aid of the pen. We may add that a print in the first state fetched £51 at the sale of the collection of Mr. Julian Marshall, in 1801'. From "Illustrated London News", 1870.