Reproduction
Object number
244
Record type
single object
Catalog (number)
Benesch: Ben1309
Object name
Title
View of The Montelbaenstoren in Amsterdam
Creator
Production date
ca 1650 - ca 1655
Technique
Material
Dimensions
paper height: 145 mm
paper width: 144 mm
Accompanying text
Not far from the Rembrandt House Museum stands a tower that was there when Rembrandt lived here. It is the Montelbaenstoren, an old defence tower that was originally part of Amsterdam’s city walls. Rembrandt drew the tower with a pen, brush and brown ink on paper. He left out the spire that was added to the tower by the architect Hendrick de Keyser in 1606. Evidently he only wanted to depict the oldest part of the building. Rembrandt used strong, low structures like this in the background of some of his Biblical scenes.
Acquisition
J.P. Zoomer, Amsterdam, D. 1725 (L 1511). N. Hone, London, sale 1785 (L 2793). Sir Joshua Reynolds, London, sale 1794 (L 2364?). J.P. Heseltine, London (L 1507): sale Amsterdam, May 27, 1913, nr. 28. Donated by a group of benefactors, 1913.
