Bemerkungen über Abdrucken : Rembrandt

"Bemerkungen über Abdrucken: Rembrandt" [Remarks on prints: Rembrandt] is an eight-page manuscript of research notes by an unidentified nineteenth-century individual discussing selected Rembrandt prints.

He initialed and signed his work, but the signature is unreadable beyond the first letter, "B." Presumably the author is German, as the notes are written in that language. His work must be later than 1826 based on the dates of publication for his four named sources. His use of publications in several languages and a limited circulation auction catalog suggests that he is probably an art dealer or collector. The authors cited in the research notes are described below.

Duchesne, Jean, 1779-1855. Prepared the prints section of Description des Objets d’arts qui composent le Cabinet de feu M. le Baron V. Denon. 2 volumes (Paris: H. Tilliard, 1826). This two-volume catalog details the collection of Baron Dominique-Vivant Denon, which included a number of Rembrandt prints. The catalog was prepared following Denon’s death (in 1825) for the auction of his extensive art and artifact collection.

Bartsch, Adam von, 1757-1821. Le Peintre-graveur, 21 volumes. (Vienna, 1802-21). He is the father of the modern catalog raisonné and the leading expert of his day on prints.

Claussin, Ignace-Joseph de, 1795-1844, also known as Chevalier de Claussin, printmaker and collector. The unknown author uses Oeuvre de Rembrandt; catalogue raisonné de toutes les estampes qui forment l’oeuvre de Rembrandt et des principales pièces de ses élèves. nouv. éd., corr. et considérablement augm. par M. le Chev. de Claussin (Paris: Firmin Didot, 1824). Claussin’s own prints and drawings, many made after the style of Rembrandt, reside in museum and private collections around the world, including the Detroit Institute of Art, San Francisco Museum of Fine Art, and the Chicago Institute of Art.

Smith, William James, Twelve Fac-Simile Etchings from the Very Rare Originals by Rembrandt in the Cracherode Collection at the British Museum (London: W.B. Cooke, 1825), derived from the Department of Prints and Drawings of the British Museum. This publication is the named source for the sketched profile portrait of Rembrandt that the unknown author pasted onto the end of his notes.