Nigel Konstam's Blog

My experiments with maquettes and mirrors have given me a fresh insight
into Rembrandt's modus operandi; which give me a true grasp of his
strengths and weaknesses. Even sensitive scholars relying on instinct
cannot rival this knowledge. The fact that my findings are entirely in
accord with the documents of his contemporaries and near contemporaries;
must add considerably to their credibility. My findings are completely
at odds with today's “experts”.

In his introduction to the Dover edition of the “Drawings of Rembrandt”
and his School, Prof. Slive sites the near unanimity as reason for
giving extra credence to scholarly opinion. I would argue, on the
contrary, that it demonstrates the hopelessly hierarchical system of
promotion within the discipline of art history: a structure that
systematically eliminates any heresy.

[My own experience as a rising star that was subverted by the unanimous
voice of the Rembrandt “experts” I need not repeat here.
Suffice it to say that without the democratizing influence of internet
my voice would have been effectively silenced. The other media have not
given me space for over 25 years though my discovery was once hailed as
“The Rembrandt Revelation” by The Observer. Apparently the “experts” can
successfully defend the indefensible by drowning my solid evidence with
the sheer volume of their babble. The present volume is a striking
example of this phenomenon.]

Criticism of The Biblical Subjects

I limit myself to the Biblical Subjects because that is where my
evidence is grounded. This catalogue breaks with normal precedent by not
making it clear just how far it strays from earlier scholarly opinion.
It strays very far indeed. Over 20 of the drawings here attributed to
pupils were accepted by Otto Benesch in 1954. In not one single case can
the student suggested by these authors be shown to have even a hint of
Rembrandt's characteristic gifts, nor for that matter, his weaknesses. I
will attempt to define these as we look at the examples.

B.129 Lot being led out of Sodom by an angel

Example 1. A drawing of Lot and his family being led out of Sodom by an
Angel, was accepted as a Rembrandt by Benesch, B.129 in his 1954
catalogue. It has been re-attributed to one Jan Victors, of whom few
people will ever have heard, nor is there any proof that he was ever a
student of Rembrandt's. His paintings are undoubtedly Rembrandt inspired
in colour and tone but his idea of form is much more classical than
Rembrandt's. The two Victors drawings reproduced in the catalogue to
back the re-attribution have nothing in common with this, other than the
use of brown ink as a medium. They are feeble by any standard. This
(B.129) on the other hand is characteristic of Rembrandt in two
important respects: Lot himself is typical of Rembrandt when drawing
from life – the clasped hands are an oft recurring item – the head is
typical, particularly in the modification of the line of the forehead,
which turns Lot slightly in our direction so he does not present us with
a pure profile.

B.129 Lot's face

His stance is suitably expressive of discomfort, his
cloak recognisable from Rembrandt's theatrical wardrobe. But most
characteristic of Rembrandt are the accompanying figures behind Lot.
They are not observed from life but invented and therefore “ worthless
in his (Rembrandt's) eyes”. I know of no other artist but Rembrandt who
would be prepared to demonstrate just how worthless he is “without life
in front of him”.

For me the pose of the leading angel is of a different and superior
order, he probably has been sketched from life. The very different
quality of these figures make it certain that Benesch was right and the
present authors, dangerously misleading.

B.359 Mother Suckling a baby

Example 2. A mother suckling a baby B.359 is one of Rembrandt's most
lovely drawings. If anyone can accept that Bol might possibly have drawn
the “Hagar and the Angel” the subject matter of my film  then of
course there is no reason why Bol should not have drawn many of
Rembrandt's greatest successes, however, the quality of his real drawing

Bol: Hagar and the Angel

and the pathetic quality of his painted Hagar make this
quite impossible. Bol's box of drawings in the Rijksmuseum does, alas,
contain many of Rembrandt's most precious pearls.

b.537 Jesus mistaken for a gardener

Example 3. also now attributed to Bol once B.537, of Christ mistaken for
a gardener, is another splendid example of the way Rembrandt can catch,
with a few well selected directions of limbs and perfect sense of
balance, a most relaxed pose. Vintage Rembrandt, an unerring sense of space.

B.564 Esau sells his birthright

Example 4. of Esau selling his birthright to Jacob for a bowel of
potage, B.564 could hardly be more typical of Rembrandt, particularly as
the second superfluous bowel suggest that the drawing is loosely based
on a mirror image.

B.121 An actor being crowned.  Now attributed to Flinck

B.122 a Bishop:  attributed to Eeckout

Examples 5 & 6 B.121 & B.122 are infinitely closer to Rembrandt's many
drawings of actors than to anything known from Flinck or Eeckout to whom
they are now re-attributed. This madness must be stopped!

I could go on and on but this is probably enough for now.