CHRISTIE'S TO OFFER £25 MILLION REMBRANDT MASTERPIECE

CHRISTIE'S WILL OFFER A STUNNING MASTERPIECE BY REMBRANDT (1606-1669) AT THE OLD MASTERS AND 19th CENTURY ART EVENING SALE ON 8.DECEMBER.2009 IN LONDON. UNSEEN IN PUBLIC FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS AND OFFERED AT AUCTION FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1930, 'PORTRAIT OF A MAN, HALF LENGTH, WITH HIS ARMS AKIMBO', 1658, IS OFFERED FROM A DISTINGUISHED PRIVATE COLLECTION AND IS EXPECTED TO REALIZE £18 MILLION TO £25 MILLION.
PORTRAIT OF A MAN, HALF-LENGTH, WITH HIS ARM AKIMBO MEASURES 42¼ x 34¼ INCHES AND DEPICTS AN UNKNOWN SITTER FACING THE ARTIST WITH A DEFIANT POSE, HANDS ON HIPS IN A DISPLAY OF COMPLETE SELF-ASSURANCE. THE BRUSHSTROKES ARE PAINTED ONTO THE CANVAS WITH A LOOSE YET CONTROLLED MASTERY, AND AS WITH THE BEST OF THE ARTIST'S LATE WORKS, IT BOASTS A MESMERIZING USE OF LIGHT AND SHADE. WHILE THE SITTER IS UNKNOWN, HE IS WEARING AN UNUSUAL COSTUME, PERHAPS SUGGESTING THAT HE WAS A VISITOR TO AMSTERDAM; THE PAINTING HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY BEEN CALLED PORTRAIT OF AN ADMIRAL.