RM24017 – Where is Rembrandt’s Etching press

09/12/24 • 21 min

Query
In my podcast RM24011 about Rembrandt’s insolvency, I also discussed which assets where incuded in the well-known inventory-list. It was made up during a two-day period, on 25 and 26 July 1656, by Frans Bruijningh, the secretary of the Chamber of Abandoned and Insolvent Estates. On today’s terms one could sat the insolvency court. In that podcast I also tossed some queries why certain assets seemed to be missing.

This drew the attention of Desmond Healy, an artist-etcher form the UK. He did send a reaction to www.rembrandtsmoney.com. Desmond wondered what happened to Rembrandt’s etching press? Was it mentioned in the inventory or was it exempt as a tool of trade?

Desmond’s question guided me back to do some additional research, which led to the following interesting developments.

This is the link you are seeking for when you where attented at timecode 18.34. 'How did Rembrandt work as an etcher? Yvonne Strang explains it in this 10 munutes video: (In Dutch with English subtitles), https://www.rembrandthuis.nl/nl/te-doen/rembrandt-bij-je-thuis/tutorials/
1. Idea, research, author, and narration: Bob Wessels: linkedin.com/in/bobwessels
2. Artwork, editing, production: Jan Wind: linkedin.com/in/janwind-videomaker
3. Artwork based on the bookcover of ‘Rembrandt’s money’ designed by Teun Okkerse: linkedin.com/in/theun-okkerse-516130b
4. Copyright accountability:
Music: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (orchestra) - Thomas Beecham (conductor) The Salomon Symphonies (Volume One) — Capitol Records, 1958. GCR 7127. Copyright Public Domain - Source: Internet Archive - Public Domain
Artwork for this episode:
Public Domain - Wiki Commons.

1. Welcome: https://www.rembrandtsmoney.com
1. Blog: https://www.rembrandtsmoney.com/blog/
2. Website: https://www.rembrandtsmoney.com
3. Sources: https://www.rembrandtsmoney.com/sources/
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For a few years I did extensive research, leading to my book of Rembrandt’s Money. The legal and financial life of an artist-entrepreneur in 17th century Holland. The first edition of the book Rembrandt’s Money, published in autumn 2021. It is nearly sold out. See https://webshop.rembrandthuis.nl/nl/rembrandts-money.htmlOr: https://shop.wolterskluwer.nl/Rembrandt-s-Money-sNPREMBMON/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAu9yqBhBmEiwAHTx5p09qw-mnSxvfLuexD9n-MFLvE_EABhlDHGVEMVes2b2ygNNeyMim-BoCqbgQAvD_BwE

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Desmond’s question guided me back to do some additional research, which led to the following interesting developments.

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RM24016 - Rembrandt as a draftsman - Hansken

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Dutch East India Company (Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie, VOC)

Between 1568 and 1648 the seven provinces of the Dutch Republic were at war with Spain. In 1621, a Twelve Years’ Truce ended without the need to extend it. Hostilities between the Republic and Spain resumed. During that period, international trade continued to flourish. The Dutch commercial companies at that time were the largest commercial private companies or multinationals around the globe, in particular the Dutch East India Company (Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie, VOC). It would spread all of its activities mainly in the direction of Asia. Rembrandt would paint several regents of the VOC, the Dutch abbreviation for the United East-India Company.

The VOC brought wealth to Amsterdam, as well as new, exiting exotic sensations. One of them was an elephant. Let me tell you the story. If you have listened to my podcast ‘Amsterdam – City of Migrants’, RM24007, you’ll remember I touched upon the dark side of the VOC too.
1. Idea, research, author, and narration: Bob Wessels: linkedin.com/in/bobwessels
2. Artwork, editing, production: Jan Wind: linkedin.com/in/janwind-videomaker
3. Artwork based on the bookcover of ‘Rembrandt’s money’ designed by Teun Okkerse: linkedin.com/in/theun-okkerse-516130b
4. Copyright accountability:
Music: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (orchestra) - Thomas Beecham (conductor) The Salomon Symphonies (Volume One) — Capitol Records, 1958. GCR 7127. Copyright Public Domain - Source: Internet Archive - Public Domain
Artwork for this episode:
Public Domain Wiki Commons.

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RM24018 - The Nightwatch: the commission

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If I say ‘The Night Watch’, most Dutch people can immediately conjure up an image of this famous painting. What’s more – they think about it with not only a sense of admiration, but also national pride. As I said in earlier podcasts of this series, citing the words of sociologist Paul Schnabel: ‘It has become our national icon and the whole world comes to see it.’ His most famous painting holds the most prominent position in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and the literature on nearly all aspects of this enormous painting is extensive and continues to expand. I refer here to just two websites, the website of the Rijksmuseum, www.rijksmuseum.nl http://colmilquetoast.blogspot.nl/2013/05/rembrandts-night-watch.html#WhosWho.

1. Idea, research, author, and narration: Bob Wessels: linkedin.com/in/bobwessels
2. Artwork, editing, production: Jan Wind: linkedin.com/in/janwind-videomaker
3. Artwork based on the bookcover of ‘Rembrandt’s money’ designed by Teun Okkerse: linkedin.com/in/theun-okkerse-516130b
4. Copyright accountability:
Music: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (orchestra) - Thomas Beecham (conductor) The Salomon Symphonies (Volume One) — Capitol Records, 1958. GCR 7127. Copyright Public Domain - Source: Internet Archive - Public Domain
Artwork for this episode:
Source: Rijksmuseum - Rijksstudio