Explorations in the footsteps of Turner, Cotman, Ruskin and others with Professor David Hill
This is the sixth article in a series cataloguing John Sell Cotman’s first series of etchings, published in 1811. Here, plate 3 takes us to the ground of the magnificent Baroque palace of Duncombe Park in Yorkshire. Cotman manages to find a corner of it that could be anywhere. John Sell CotmanDuncombe Park, Yorkshire, 1810Private … Continue reading Plate 3, Duncombe Park, Yorkshire
This is the seventh part of a series cataloguing John Sell Cotman’s first series of etchings, published in 1811. Here we turn to plate 4 and remember an obscure detail from an early-career tour to Wales. John Sell Cotman, Valle Crucis Abbey, North Wales, 1810. Private collection. Photograph: Professor David Hill This is an impression … Continue reading Plate 4, Valle Crucis Abbey, North Wales
This is the eighth instalment of a journey of exploration starting from a 1636 Rembrandt etching, Self Portrait with Saskia. In the previous part we heard of their first year or so of marriage, and left them together in their first grand house enjoying the fruits of Rembrandt’s success. It is now time to return … Continue reading Rembrandt, Saskia and me #8
This is the seventh instalment of a journey of exploration starting from a 1636 Rembrandt etching, Self Portrait with Saskia. In the last we heard of Rembrandt's betrothal to Saskia Uylenburgh and their subsequent wedding. Here we hear of their early married life. Following their wedding in St Annaparochie in Friesland on 22 June 1634, … Continue reading Rembrandt, Saskia and me #7
This is the sixth instalment of a journey of exploration starting from a 1636 Rembrandt etching, Self Portrait with Saskia. Here we hear of their engagement and wedding. By 1633 Rembrandt, working under Hendrick Uylenburgh’s management and in his house on the Breestraat, was quite the brightest star in the Amsterdam firmament. Commissions poured in … Continue reading Rembrandt, Saskia and me #6
This is the fifth instalment of a journey of exploration stimulated by a 1636 Rembrandt etching, Self Portrait with Saskia. Here we further explore the context of their relationship. Hendrick Uylenburgh’s house was on the corner of the Breestraat and Zwanenbuurgwal immediately right of that in the centre of the image above that Rembrandt would … Continue reading Rembrandt, Saskia and me #5
This is the fourth instalment of a journey of exploration stimulated by a 1636 Rembrandt etching, Self Portrait with Saskia. Here we further explore the relationship and marriage that led up to the composition. Saskia Uylenburgh was born at 11 Ossekop, in a grand house not far from the centre of Leeuwarden. The house was … Continue reading Rembrandt, Saskia and me #4
This is the third instalment of a journey stimulated by a 1636 Rembrandt etching, Self Portrait with Saskia. Here we begin to explore the relationship and marriage that led up to the composition. I am by no means the first to take an interest in Rembrandt’s wife. Her story was largely unknown up to the … Continue reading Rembrandt, Saskia and me #3
This is the second instalment in which I develop my interest Rembrandt’s wife. Here, I talk a little more about the etching that I bought. It appears that the auctioneers presumed this to be of relatively little interest, but it is in fact the same impression as one at the British Museum (1843,0607.12) and Christie's … Continue reading Rembrandt, Saskia and me #2
I recently enjoyed an assignation with Mrs Rembrandt in her home town. She was born in Leeuwarden, the principal town of Friesland in North Holland, and was the daughter of no less a figure than the Mayor. She married Rembrandt aged twenty-one in 1634 and they lived together prosperously in Amsterdam during the years of … Continue reading Rembrandt, Saskia and me #1
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