Portrait of a Man in an Armchair, from Collection d'imitations de Dessins d'après les Principaux Maîtres Hollandais et Flamands

"Portrait of a Man in an Armchair, from Collection d'imitations de Dessins d'après les Principaux Maîtres Hollandais et Flamands" is a detailed drawing created by Christian Josi (Dutch, died 1828) in 1826, serving as a meticulous imitation after an earlier composition by the renowned master Rembrandt van Rijn. This piece is classified as a tracing, executed primarily in red and black chalk on prepared oiled paper. The specific technique employed, including areas partially pricked for transfer, indicates that this drawing was intended as an intermediary step, likely for the creation of subsequent fine art prints or reproductive engravings.

Josi, a prominent art dealer and collector operating in the Netherlands during the early 19th century, produced this tracing as part of a larger, ambitious project dedicated to documenting and reproducing works by the great Dutch and Flemish masters. While mimicking the expressive psychological depth characteristic of Rembrandt’s 17th-century portraiture, this 1826 drawing reveals the sustained European reverence for Golden Age aesthetics two centuries later. The careful act of tracing and pricking the outlines allowed Josi to capture the essence of the original composition with high fidelity, ensuring accuracy for widespread reproduction in prints.

The subject, depicted seated in an armchair, adheres closely to Rembrandt's established tradition of intimate and psychologically resonant portraiture. This piece is significant not only as a study of composition but also as an important record of artistic reproduction methods common in the 1800s. This drawing is conserved within the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Made almost 200 years ago, the reproduction of this masterwork is now part of the public domain, allowing contemporary scholars and admirers worldwide access to Josi’s historically important documentation project.