Artwork
Cornelis Claesz Anslo, Mennonite Preacher
Cornelis Claesz Anslo, Mennonite Preacher is a print by the Baroque artist Rembrandt van Rijn. It dates from 1641 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Rembrandt’s 1641 print portrays Cornelis Claesz Anslo, a Mennonite preacher, seated in a modest interior.
- Accession no.
- 1926.479
- Credit line
- Bequest of Ralph King
About this work
Overview
Rembrandt’s 1641 print portrays Cornelis Claesz Anslo, a Mennonite preacher, seated in a modest interior. The figure is distinguished by a broad hat and a fur-trimmed collar, holding a sheet of paper in one hand and an open book in the other. The background is minimal, limited to a faint curtain, focusing attention on the sitter’s expressive visage.
Subject & Meaning
The work captures Anslo in a contemplative pose, suggesting his role as a religious teacher. The juxtaposition of the paper and the book may allude to his duties of preaching and scriptural study, while the solemn expression conveys the seriousness associated with his ministerial vocation within the Mennonite tradition.
Technique & Style
Rembrandt employs chiaroscuro, creating stark contrasts between illuminated facial planes and deep shadows that model the features in three dimensions. The fine line work and cross‑hatching render textures such as the fur collar and the softness of the hat, while the restrained background enhances the dramatic lighting that defines the composition.
History & Provenance
Executed in 1641, the print entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains on view. Its attribution to Rembrandt is well established, and the piece reflects the artist’s mid‑career interest in portraiture of notable religious figures.
Artist & collection
Artist
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, known mononymously as Rembrandt, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker, and draughtsman.
