Tobias and the Angel.
After Rembrandt, engraved by J McArdell
Tobias with the Angel. "
Tobias with the Angel."
from the Original in the COLLECTION of Mr Reynolds. London J. McArdell 1742-1765
Black & white Mezzotint by James McArdell after Rembrandt; Laid down to later paper.
Tobias with the Angel; Tobias sitting on riverbank with his dog beside him, the angel kneeling over him; both he and his dog gazing in terror at grotesque fish emerging from the Tigris at right; shepherds and figures crossing bridge in landscape beyond; Lettered with 'signature' as Rembrandt within image.
Tobias and the Angel is the title given to paintings and other artworks depicting a scene in which Tobias, son of Tobit, meets an angel without realising he is an angel (Book of Tobit, 5.5-6) and is then instructed by the angel what to do with a giant fish he catches (Book of Tobit, 6.2-9). Dark impression; trimmed to plate mark and laid down at some time to late [modern?] paper probably to preserve due to the following faults: creasing; upper right corner missing and replaced with later paper and pencil; 3 tears to upper margin [approx 20-30mm] ;long paper fault to sky.
James McArdell ( 1729 - 1765)
Mezzotinter, born Dublin, pupil of Brooks. To London with Brooks c. 1746. The outstanding mezzotinter of the so-called Dublin school, concentrating mostly on portraits: said to have been Reynolds favourite engraver. Published his own plates, which were mostly bought after his death by Sayer (see the letters of Reynolds, p.46).
The spelling McArdell is preferred.[
Gordon Goodwin, 'British Mezzotinters: James McArdell', London 1903 (231 nos)]
Chaloner Smith
Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn; Rijn, Rembrandt van (1606 - 1669)
Painter, draughtsman and etcher of portraits, landscapes and historical and biblical subjects. Born in Leiden the son of a mill-owner; in 1620 after completing his tuition at the Leiden Latin School enrolled at Leiden University; began a three-year apprenticeship in Leiden to a minor painter Jacob Isaacz. Swanenburgh (q.v.); from 1624-5 a pupil of Pieter Lastman (q.v.), a leading painter in Amsterdam, for about six months after which he set himself up as an independent painter in Leiden and worked closely with Jan Lievens. In or around 1631 he settles permanently in Amsterdam; marries Saskia van Uylenburgh (q.v.) in 1634; in 1649 Hendrickje Stoffels enters his household as a servant and they have a child, Cornelia, together; 1656-8 his assets, art collection, and home sold to pay off his creditors.
British Museum No:1870,0625.582 [ proof before letters]; Goodwin 214.II; not in Chaloner Smith. 480 by 357mm (19 by 14 inches).
ref: 2694
€350