Clement de Jonghe, printseller

This portrait originates from Rembrandt’s late period. Clement de Jonghe (1624/25-1677) was a publisher and print and map dealer in Amsterdam. It appears the two were close acquaintances, per-haps even friends, and that De Jonghe acquired Rembrandt’s plates during the latter’s lifetime. The portrait is known in ten states (successive versions) of which half were made by Rembrandt and the rest by the plates’ subsequent owners. The first state of the portrait was very airy in manner and almost resembled a snapshot - as though Clement merely stopped by in Rembrandt’s studio, casual-ly sat himself in a chair without even taking off his hat and gloves. The later states intensified the shadow and altered his facial expression, which nevertheless remains interesting, with a hint of a smile.