Knielend mannelijk naakt

About this artwork

…; collection Carel Vosmaer (1826-88), Montreux;{Amsterdam 1989, p. 92, no. 53.} his son, Prof. Dr Gualtherus Carel Jacob Vosmaer (1854-1916), Leiden; his son, C.J.J.G. Vosmaer (1907-86), Leiden; his heirs; from whom, fl. 650,000, with 212 other drawings, to the museum, with support from the Vereniging Rembrandt, the Rijksmuseum Stichting and The Ster, 1989

Art Historical Context

This drawing, titled *Knielend mannelijk naakt* (“Kneeling Male Nude”), was created by the Dutch artist Daniël Mijtens II on paper measuring 340 by 468 millimeters. Dating from the period 1654–1688, the work exemplifies the tradition of figure studies that artists used to explore anatomy, light, and pose. Rendered simply on paper, such drawings served as essential practice tools and preparatory works, capturing the human form with directness and sensitivity. The sheet carries a distinguished provenance. It once belonged to the noted Dutch collector and writer Carel Vosmaer and remained in his family for generations before being acquired by the museum in 1989, together with 212 other drawings. The purchase was made possible through the support of the Vereniging Rembrandt, the Rijksmuseum Stichting, and The Ster, ensuring these works entered a public collection for continued study and appreciation. Today the drawing offers visitors a glimpse into seventeenth-century artistic training and the enduring value of works on paper. Its careful preservation highlights how even modest studies can illuminate the working methods of Dutch artists and the cultural networks that safeguarded their legacy.