Ephraim Bonus, Jewish Physician
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Bequest of George Campbell Cooper
Accession Number
1896-3-169
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
In 1647, Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn, the renowned Dutch Baroque master, created this intimate etching portrait of Ephraim Bonus, a respected Jewish physician practicing in Amsterdam's vibrant Jewish Quarter. During the Dutch Golden Age, Rembrandt frequently portrayed scholars, rabbis, and professionals from the city's diverse Jewish community, reflecting his close ties to this cultural hub. Bonus, known for treating Rembrandt's own family members, embodies the era's intellectual exchange and religious tolerance in the Netherlands, a haven for Sephardic Jews fleeing the Inquisition. As a prin...