Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn: Portrait of the artist's father (1626-1630)

(Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, UK)

A print made by the Dutch artist Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn (1606-1669). Portraits of the father of Rembrandt are uncommon - usually several portraits of an old man are sometimes identified as his father. This drawing contains a text which was written by Rembrandt himself: "Harman Gerrits van der Rhijn", which is the name of Rembrandt's father (Harmen Gerritsz van Rijn, 1567/68-1630). Harmen Gerritsz van Rijn was a successful malt miller who was married to Neeltgen Willemsdr. van Zuytbrouck (ca.1568-1630) - she was the daughter of a successful baker. Rembrandt probably made this portrait when his father was sleeping (hence the closed eyes). Rembrandt added the text and the dark background left and right of the portrait somewhat later, perhaps after the death of his father. Drawing from 1626-1630