Signed and dated in the plate lower left Rembrandt .f. 1652.

A superb 17th century / lifetime impression of Bartsch and Usticke's first state of three, printed prior to the appearance of the rust spots in the plate along the upper and right edges, showing burr on the tall hat of the man in the center behind Christ.

A small expertly repaired split in the right sheet edges well away from the image, otherwise in excellent condition, printed on a sheet with wide margins. Collections in which impression of this state of this etching can be found: Rijksprentenkabinet, Rijksmseum, Amsterdam; Kupferstichkabinett der Staalichen Museen, Berlin-Dahlem; Museum of Fine ARt, Boston; Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge; Ermitage Museum, Leningrad; The British Museum, London; Ashmolean Museum, Oxford; Biblioth¸que Nationale, Paris; Duthuit Collection, Petit Palais, Paris; Collections Edmond de Rothschild, Musee du Louvre, Paris; Graphische Sammlung Albertina, Vienna. When Jesus was twelve years old his parents took him to Jerusalem on their annual Passover pilgrimage. However, after the holiday that year he remained behind without their knowledge. His parents thought he must have returned home alone, but when they reached Nazareth and didn't find him there, they rushed back to Jerusalem to look for him. 'And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the Temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou dealt us this? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them, and came to Nazareth.' (Luke: 2:41-52)

Bartsch 65 i/iii; Hind 257; Biorklund-Barnard 52-B; Usticke 65 i/iii

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