Rembrandt · Print · Art market
Amand-Durand and Rembrandt
What are 19th century etchings really worth - and how can we distinguish them from an original Rembrandt proof?
Read the verdict
Direct response
Very beautiful facsimiles, but not originals by Rembrandt
Good vocabulary already avoids the main confusion: Amand-Durand did not "restore" all of Rembrandt's original plates. Above all, he produced photoengraved facsimiles from carefully chosen old proofs, in order to recreate their lines on new matrices.
Who was he?
Charles Amand-Durand, pioneer of facsimile
A 19th century engraver
Charles Amand-Durand (1831 -1905) is recognized by the British Museum as one of the French pioneers of photoengraving applied to ancient prints.
A transfer company
His large series of facsimiles of old masters began in 1869, often in the form of portfolios accompanied by scholarly texts by Georges Duplessis.
A documentary brand
Its leaves frequently bear on the back a red stamp listed by Frits Lugt under the number 2934 - an important clue, never sufficient proof on its own.
The technique
Why the result can be so convincing
Heliogravure photographically transfers the image from a reference print to a new plate. After biting and preparing the matrix, the ink is deposited in the hollows, the surface wiped, then the damp paper passes under strong pressure. We obtain a real hollow print, with bowl and ink density - not a simple one reproduction photographic plane.
Amand-Durand sought the finesse of hatching and the hierarchy of blacks. This fidelity explains the presence of its sheets in public collections, but it does not transform their material author: the composition is by Rembrandt, the print is produced by Amand-Durand.
Decisive comparison
Original, old reprint or Amand-Durand?
| Category | Matrix | Date | Correct attribution | Relative value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original proof | Plaque engraved by Rembrandt | 17th century, sometimes old posthumous print | Rembrandt, with specified condition and paper | The highest |
| Original plate removal | Rembrandt plate, sometimes worn or reworked | After his death | Rembrandt, posthumous print clearly indicated | Very variable |
| Facsimile Amand-Durand | New photo-etched plaque | End of the 19th century | Amand-Durand, after Rembrandt | Accessible collection |
| Late reissue | Matrix or subsequent process | 20th century or later | reproduction according to Amand-Durand/Rembrandt | Generally modest |
What the eye should look at
Image resemblance is not enough
Two sheets may appear identical in a photograph and fall into radically different categories. The examination covers laid paper, watermarks, bowl, ink relief, margins, line wear and back marks.
The words "signed in the plaque" are often misleading: Rembrandt's signature is part of the copied image. This is neither a handwritten signature of Rembrandt nor authentication by Amand-Durand.
Market value
How much to pay today?
for a correctly identified Amand-Durand leaf, in good condition and without exceptional provenance.
Large subjects, beautiful papers, clean stamps, documented portfolios and solid provenances can exceed this range. A late reissue is often worth less.Pay attention to ad estimates
The market shows a considerable gap between asking prices and realized prices. Copies were sold for around $200 -225, while several lots estimated at between $1,800 and $8,000 remained unsold.
High estimate not followed by sale is not odds. Compare awarded results, not just gallery ads.
Indicative range, no individual expertise. Subject, format, edition, paper, condition, back, origin and framing may modify the price.
Documented example
Ephraim Bonus : a clearly named museum copy
The British Museum preserves an 1878 photoengraving of Amand-Durand based on the portrait engraved by Rembrandt. His notice uses unambiguous wording: "after Rembrandt" and "print made by Charles Amand-Durand". This is exactly how a serious seller should present the sheet.
The precision of the rendering may be remarkable, but the museum refers separately to Rembrandt's original etching. Visual quality and historical authenticity are two different issues.
Before buying
Eight essential checks
Collector's verdict
Yes for quality; no if it is sold to you as an original Rembrandt
A good Amand-Durand proof is a beautiful gateway to Rembrandt's graphic universe. It has a history, materiality and print quality that a poster does not offer. His interest only disappears when the attribution becomes unclear or the price imitates that of an old print.
The honest formula is simple: "Charles Amand-Durand, after Rembrandt, 19th century heliogravure".
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Is an Amand-Durand a real Rembrandt etching?
No. It is an intaglio print made from an etching by Rembrandt, but from a new matrix created in the 19th century.
Does the red stamp prove everything?
It constitutes a good indicator when its shape corresponds to the Lugt 2934 stamp, but it must be crossed with paper, printing, provenance and edition.
Why do some ads charge several thousand euros?
The prices displayed sometimes reflect a commercial strategy, a framework or an alleged origin. The results actually awarded provide a more reliable measure of the market.
Can we confuse an Amand-Durand with an original?
Yes in a small photo. A specialist examines the sheet materially and compares the condition of the plate, paper, watermark, bowl and catalogs raisonnés.
Alpha Reproduction does he sell these rotogravures?
Our rembrandt collection is dedicated to hand-painted reproductionsoil on canvas, distinct from Amand-Durand prints.
Another way to live in Rembrandt
Discover Rembrandt's paintings reproduced in oil
Our artists create each painting handmade on canvas, based on the full image and without arbitrary cropping. Check photographs before shipment, possible alterations, white border of 4 to 6 cm and format advice are part of the accompaniment.
See the Rembrandt collectionSources
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