Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch, 1606-1669) etching and drypoint depicting the Virgin Mary and infant Christ in a domestic interior. Mary cradles Christ while she restrains a snake beneath her left foot. A cat on a riser plays with the hem of Mary's dress as Joseph, shown through a central window, peers into the room. Signed and dated "Rembrandt f[ecit] 1654," in plate, and inscribed "a" in brown ink en verso, likely an unidentified collector's mark. With partial Foolscap with a Seven-Pointed Collar watermark. New Hollstein’s second state of four; White and Boon’s first state of two; Usticke's first state (e) of four. Plate: 3 6/8" H x 5 5/8" W. Sheet: 3 7/8" H x 5 13/16" W. Bartsch, Hollstein (White and Boon) 63; Hind 275; New Hollstein 278.

PROVENANCE: By descent in the Acklen family of Belmont Mansion, Nashville, likely acquired 4th quarter 19th century. 

A richly-inked impression with strong contrasts, no signs of wear, and narrow margins. With the foul-biting along the upper edge of the plate and fine vertical scratches to the right of the date, lower center, and crisp, inky plate edges consistent with the earliest impressions of this etching. With thin, Japan paper hinges affixed to upper left and right en verso.