Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–1669), The Descent from the Cross: second plate (1633) New Hollstein 119...

Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–1669), The Descent from the Cross: second plate (1633) New Hollstein 119 6(8) This is the sixth of eight states, following the removal of Justus Danckerts’ address with a burin in the lower right-hand margin (still very faintly visible) but prior to the addition of the address of Basan’s studio. A beautifully balanced print. Verso: annotated (in pencil) ‘Rembrandt’ ‘la grande Croix’ ‘Basan’ & ‘[…]’ ‘Amstellodanum’. This etching is an 18th-century ‘Basan etching’, that is to say, a print from the first Basan (Pierre-François). Pierre-François Basan (1723–1797) was a Parisian art dealer and publisher who, in the late 18th century, purchased some 83 original copper plates by Rembrandt. Rembrandt often printed his etchings himself during his lifetime, but the copper plates survived after his death. Basan restored these plates, had them slightly retouched and began printing them again. After his death in 1797, the plates passed to his son, Henri-Louis Basan. Etching and burin, 530 x 404 mm. (frame: 73 x 60 cm.)