The Shell (Conus marmoreus) 1650
rembrandtvanrijn
Private Collection
light pencil work
pencil sketch
possibly oil pastel
pencil drawing
coloured pencil
underpainting
pastel chalk drawing
watercolour bleed
watercolour illustration
watercolor
"The Shell (Conus marmoreus)" is a 1650 drawing by Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn. The artwork depicts a single seashell, rendered in meticulous detail using graphite on paper. Rembrandt’s skillful use of shading and hatching captures the intricate textures and light-reflecting properties of the shell, creating a sense of realism. This drawing showcases Rembrandt's mastery of naturalism and his ability to imbue even seemingly simple subjects with depth and beauty. The work is currently in a private collection.
Comments
Collecting exotic shells was a popular hobby in the 17th century, and it excited Rembrandt’s interest too. He had a small natural history collection of his own, including this marbled cone shell; it is similar in shape to the conus cervus, a ‘deer’ cone. He rendered the form and markings of the shell with meticulous care on the copperplate. Note that the shell appears in mirror image.
Join the conversation
Join millions of artists and users on Artera today and experience the ultimate creative platform.
CollectMore like this
