The Rabbi

Prints and Drawings

1778

William Pether (English, 1731/38-1821)
after Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch, 1606-1669)

Like his contemporaries, William Pether used mezzotint to disseminate important master paintings. In this case, he copied Rembrandt van Rijn’s distinctively posed, stoic rabbi. Mezzotint was an ideal medium with which to reproduce Rembrandt’s composition, with its dramatic, Baroque use of chiaroscuro. Not only does mezzotint retain these qualities, but its rich undertones also add to the spotlighted effects. With a touch of theatricality, the portrait focuses on his craggy features. The rabbi is statuesque, demanding reverence from those before him.

Status: Currently Off View
Department: Prints and Drawings

Artist: William Pether
Title: The Rabbi
Place: England (Artist's nationality:)
Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.: Made 1778
Medium: Mezzotint on ivory laid paper
Dimensions: Image: 45.7 × 35.4 cm (18 × 13 15/16 in.); Plate: 50.8 × 35.5 cm (20 × 14 in.); Sheet: 55.3 × 39.5 cm (21 13/16 × 15 9/16 in.)
Credit Line: Elizabeth Hammond Stickney Collection
Reference Number: 1887.304
IIIF Manifest The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world. Learn more.: https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/139060/manifest.json

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Artist

Title

Place

Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

Medium

Dimensions

Credit Line

Reference Number

IIIF Manifest The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world. Learn more.

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IIIF Manifest The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.