Jan Lutma, Goldsmith

Details

Bartsch 276; White/Boon 276 II (von III); Hinterding/Rutgers (The New Hollstein) 293 II (von V).

Provenienz:
Sammlung Heinrich Brockhaus (1804-1874), Leipzig, seitdem in Familienbesitz.

Description

Quite excellent early impression, deep black in the dark areas, with a delicate plate tone on the chest and in Jan Lutma’s right hand, as well as with a fine burr effect in the coat. Before the reworking at the window upper right. Trimmed to the platemark.
Jan Lutma, born in 1584 in Groningen, died in 1669, the same year as Rembrandt, was one of the most famous goldsmiths in Amsterdam. Rembrandt depicts Lutma, already 72 years old in 1656, in a leather-covered armchair, holding a statuette in his right hand, with goldsmith’s tools lying on the table to his right. In the second state, the signature and the date, which are undoubtedly in Rembrandt’s own hand, appear in the upper left window. In the centre right, an inscription identifies the sitter. The characteristic signature and the inscription are in such contrast to each other that it can be assumed that the son Johannes Lutma, who was himself an artist, engraved the inscription on the panel, perhaps after the panel had been given to the family. It was most likely a commissioned work. – Reinforced at the upper edge verso and with remnants and traces of former mounting in the upper and lower right corners. Faint brown staining to the reverse, otherwise in good condition.