Core Record NIRP - VADS: the online resource for visual arts

Core Record
Title	The Rabbi
Alternative Title	Bearded Old Man with a Beretta, Reading a Letter
Original Translation	B�rtiger Greis mit Barett, einen Brief lesend
Collection	Reading Museum Service
Artist	Attributed to Koninck, Salomon (Dutch painter, printmaker, and draftsman, 1609-1656) Previously attributed to Dou, Gerrit (Dutch painter and draftsman, 1613-1675) Previously attributed to Koninck, Philips de (Dutch painter and draftsman, 1619-1688) Previously attributed to Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch painter, draftsman and printmaker, 1606-1669)
Date Earliest	probably about 1640
Date Latest	probably about 1650
Signed	yes
Description	Although he was never one of his pupils, the paintings of Salomon Koninck were heavily influenced by the work of Rembrandt. It is his many paintings of old men, rabbis and goldsmiths which demonstrate the influence most clearly, drawing comparisons with the master's figure paintings from the 1630s and 1640s. This work, for example, demonstrates Koninck's attention to detail in the wrinkles on the old man's face and his concentrated expression in reading the letter before him. Rather than being a portrait of a specific person, such works conveyed fictional characters which were often repeated in other paintings.
Current Accession Number	REDMG:1944.67.1
Inscription	front ll 'KONINCK F.'
Subject	figure
Measurements	109 x 86.5 cm (estimate)
Material	oil on canvas
Acquisition Details	Given by Captain W. E. M. Blandy and the executors of W. C. Blandy 1945.
Provenance	Rev. B.R. Body, Eldon House, Reading, 1874; Henry Burgh, Stanley Park, Stroud; by descent to daughter Catherine Maria Blandy (n�e Burgh); possibly by descent to W. F. Blandy, Reading, by 1896; possibly by descent to F. W. Blandy by 1898; by descent to W. C. Blandy Esq. and Captain W. E. M. Blandy.
Principal Exhibitions	West Street Hall, Reading, 1874, as Head of a Rabbi by Rembrandt.
Publications	Sumowski, W., Gem�lde der Rembrandt-Sch�ler, vol. 3, Stuttgart, 1983, cat. no. 1125, p. 1648, ill. p. 1169, as B�rtiger Greis mit Barett, einen Brief lesend(Bearded Old Man with a Beretta, Reading a Letter); Wright, C., Old Master Paintings in Britain, London, 1976, p. 112, as by Philips de Koninck.
Notes	The canvas has been lined and on the back is inscribed in paint 'Gerard Dow'. If meant as an attribution it is incorrect. The 'KONINCK F.' inscription on the front of the canvas is far more credible. The attribution to Philips de Koninck has been rejected in favour of Salomon Koninck due to its similarity to many of his works. This image is reproduced, excluding the figure's left hand on the armchair, in a second painting now in the Kantrowitz Collection in New York (see Samowski, W., Rembrandt and Pupils, Montreal and Toronto, 1969, cat. no. 83). A third version, which Sumowski dates to the eighteenth century, was sold at Christie's, London, 14 July 1978, lot 160. Three handwritten letters are glued to the back of the canvas and stretcher: �Painting of an Old Man Reading�, by Von Koeninck (Philip de Konig) born at Amsterdam 1619. died 1689. This picture belonged to Henry Burgh of Stanley[?] Park, Stroud, whose only daughter Catherine Maria married John Jackson Blandy [signed] W.F. Blandy 12 July 1896, Reading. �A handbook of Painting� by I. A. Crowe 1874 - vol.1. Dutch School - contains an account of Solomon Koniag [?] as born 1609, died 1668. and known as the painter of � A stately and animated portrait of a Rabbi�, � invariably mistaken for Rembrandt and often repeated�. Mr. Roger John Kynaston Mott, Lieutenant of the Queen's, Aldershot, is the owner of a painting almost exactly like this. This picture belonged to Henry Burgh of Stanley Park, Stroud, Glos: Whose only daughter Katherine Maria, married (in 1818) John Jackson Blandy, my uncle. [signed] F. W. Blandy, Aug. 11th, 1898 1 Friar St, Reading August 11th 1898. Dear Mr. Mott, I have at last some explanation of your oil painting and time being so much [...]. In the first of the volumes of �Handbooks of Painting�. 1874 by I. A. Crowe, belonging to the Dutch School is an account of Solomon Koning born 1609 - died 1668 and known as the painter of �a stately and animated portrait of a Rabbi - invariably mistaken for Rembrandt and often repeated�. Is not this the explananation? I do more regret that I could not find �Le Vieux Savant� by Solomon Koning in the Gallery at Amsterdam, as it may be another �Rabbi�. It seems probable that yours and mine are both originals. Crowe mentions Philip. de Koningh as a landscape painter and that he was born in 1619 and died in 1689 without giving place of birth and burial at Amsterdam, as the Amsterdam Handbook does, and the notes of death differ from the handbook which buried them both on the 8th August 1656. There are two landscapes by Philip. De K. in our National Gallery of the same size and style as the two at Amsterdam. But our Gallery does not contain anything by Solomon Koning. With kind regards, I am sincerely yours, F. W. Blandy R. I. K. Mott, Esq., The Queen's, Aldershot. p.s. What is the name of your house where you found the picture?
Rights Owner	Reading Museum Service, Reading Borough Council (all rights reserved)
Author	Dr Anne L. Cowe