The Philosopher

Described as Portrait of a Jewish Philosopher by early twentieth-century scholars, this painting is alternately titled The Philosopher, and is described in recent literature as Bust of a Man in Fancy Dress. The painting has long been recognized as a significant work of seventeenth-century Dutch art. It was once attributed to the master Rembrandt van Rijn (it bore a false signature and date at the lower center, ¡°Rembrandt f. 1646¡±), and later to his star pupil Willem Drost, who was active between 1650 and 1655. The complexity of Rembrandt¡¯s workshop makes identification of the artist difficult, as it was common for Rembrandt to sign paintings produced in his workshop. The most current scholarship suggests that the painting is a copy of Rembrandt¡¯s The Philosopher, c. 1653, which is in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. The sitter is thought to have posed for several Rembrandt paintings. Title The Philosopher Creator Follower of Rembrandt van Rijn Da