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1897 · réf. ABC_48445 — Paris 1897. Folio. Charles Sedelmeyer Later brown mottled calf with the title and volume number lettered in gold on the spine the original cloth front wrappers used as title-pages. With 622 full-page photogravure plates. 8 volumes. 2 blank 8 178 2; 2 blank 6 178 2; 2 blank 6 202 2; 2 blank 6 223 1; 2 blank 6 213 3; 2 blank 6 206 3; 2 blank 6 254 2; 2 blank VI 2 381 1 6 blank pp. The complete catalogue of Rembrandt's paintings compiled by the leading Rembrandt experts of the time. It is the second complete catalogue of his works ever made a remarkable achievement in the history of art. The 595 different paintings many of which were here attributed to Rembrandt for the first time are beautifully reproduced with full-page photogravures. The two largest paintings de Nachtwacht the Nightwatch and de Staalmeesters the Sampling Officials have even been printed on two pages. These stunning volumes are the result of 12 years of research. They were printed in limited number and initially only distributed to subscribers. The present edition printed on Holland paper consisted of only 500 copies. The present work is number 196.The work describes and depicts Rembrandt's paintings in chronological order with each volume focussing on a different time period of his career. The paintings are all accompanied by a short description. The final volume shows Rembrandts life as a whole. It starts with a short biography shows paintings that are only known from etchings and discusses letters and other documents written by Rembrandt which are also included in the catalogue as photogravures. The work offers a complete overview of what was known about Rembrandt's life and work at the time.The first Rembrandt catalogue published in 1836 by John Smith contained 614 different paintings. When art historian Wilhelm Bode or Wilhelm von Bode 1845-1929 together with art historian Cornelis Hofstede de Groot 1863-1930 published the present catalogue 60 years later concensus about Rembrandt's oeuvre had changed. He rejected many of Smith's attributions but also added around 60 new discoveries. The most major one was The man with the golden helmet which Bode bought for the Gemäldegallerie in Berlin when he was the curator there. Unlike Smith Bode was also interested in Rembrandt's drawings prints and letters because he believed Rembrandt had to be studied as a whole in order to truly understand him and his work. As such he became a leading expert on Rembrandt and hugely influenced the acquisitions of museums and private collectors.While Bode and Hofstede de Groot attributed almost 600 works mainly paintings to Rembrandt experts now attribute approximately 250 paintings to Rembrandt himself ascribing many others to his students and working in Rembrandt's atelier. Nevertheless the present work is of vital importance for the general understanding of Rembrandt and his works.A few of the volumes have white chalk spots on the front board and the back turn in. The cloth title-pages are somewhat scratched around the edges the blank leaves at the start and end of each volume are discoloured the front flyleaves of volume 5 and 8 are creased the tissue paper protecting each plate has discoloured the surrounding leaves the upper outer corner of p. 107 in volume 2 has torn without affecting the text the tissue paper of plate 486 in volume 7 has detached. Otherwise in very good condition.l Cf. Wheelock A. K. Issues of attribution in the Rembrandt workshop National Gallery of Art online. ABE CAT Art History ART ARCHITECTURE & PHOTOGRAPHY BOOK HISTORY & PRINTING DRAWINGS PRINTS & WATERCOLOURS LOW COUNTRIES Art & Art History Bibliography & Biography Netherlands Prints & Print Series hardcover