A quacksalver is a quack or charlatan. A man is clothed in a hat, cape, boots, lace collar and cuffs. He also carried a large bag, a short sword, a basket hangs from his neck and he is holding up something in his left hand.
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Quacksalver, The

Rembrandt, van Rijn

1635

Artwork Information

  • Title:

    Quacksalver, The

  • Artist:

    Rembrandt, van Rijn

  • Artist Bio:

    Netherlandish, 1606–1669

  • Date:

    1635

  • Medium:

    Etching

  • Dimensions:

    3 1/8 x 1 7/16 inches

  • Credit Line:

    Wichita Art Museum, L. S. and Ida L. Naftzger Collection of Prints

  • Object Number:

    1965.18

  • Display:

    Not Currently on Display

About the Artwork

Provenance is often gleaned from the labels that come attached to the backing of the print or painting. This print by Rembrandt was once in the Vincent Price Collection of Art sold through the Sears, Roebuck and Co.  As early as 1895, Sears offered oil paintings at prices of 90 cents and up. In 1962 they hired Vincent Price to assemble the collection because of his reputation as a knowledgeable art collector. Price had attended the Courtauld Institute of Art and had spent years studying art at Yale and the University of London. The actor purchased more than 2,700 works with the first 100 going on sale in Denver, Colorado. To the store’s surprise, it was very popular. Items ranged in selling price from $10 to $3,000. Sears customers could also purchase items on an installment plan for as little as $5 down and $5 a month. The experiment ended in 1971 after more than 50,000 pieces of fine art had been sold.