Rembrandt or not?
In 1930 the Groninger Museum received a number of drawings from collector and Rembrandt expert Cornelis Hofstede de Groot. The Rembrandt year 2019 gives reason to take a closer look at a few of those drawings: is it really created by Rembrandt or was it made by one of his students?
Look closely...
The daughters of Cecrops finding Erichthoneus
Erichthonius is the son of Gaia (earth) and Hephaestos (metalwork). He was put in a wicker basket after his birth, and placed in the care off Cecrops’ daughters. The women weren’t allowed to open the basket, although their curiosity eventually got the better of them. They were horrified to find a child with the body of a snake. This drawing is generally attributed to Rembrandt because of the expressive figures. The women really seem shocked: you can see it in their body language and facial expressions. In several spots Rembrandt used a thick white paint to cover up his corrections. This is a technique he used more often. These lines of ink have, however, darkened over time due to oxidation.
Rembrandt in the Groninger Museum
In the Collection exhibition we presented a small selection of drawings that were attributed to Rembrandt. On show up to and including 12 December.
