The Brook Gallery

Welcome to Brook Gallery on-line.  One of Devon’s best known art galleries, Brook Gallery came into existence in 1997 and since then has moved from strength to strength gaining an excellent reputation across the UK and beyond, selling limited edition, original prints.  Our collections incorporate a broad spectrum of styles, through an enviable catalogue of some of the most influential artists in the Uk today.  All of the work that you see is available to purchase via this secure web-site or at the gallery itself.  Committed to providing excellent service, we always operate the price promise scheme where applicable*.

* where possible we will endeavour to meet the price of any original print, still in edition.

Rembrandt Etchings 17th May - 16th June

A wonderful selection of rare and historic Rembrandt etchings - not to be missed!

Exhibition talk - Maggie Giraud 9th June, 1.30pm - 2pm

Made In Britain - 13th July - 1st September

Our good friend and supporter, Professor Chris Orr MBE RA will headline Brook Gallery's Summer exhibition which promises to be bring a wealth of wonderful prints by Chris interspersed with regularly changing additions by Sir Peter Blake, Norman Ackroyd, John Piper and other selected artists

Barbara Rae CBE RA - 10th September - 13th October

The most stunning collections of abstract works by one of the UK's most recognised abstract artists

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - Brad Faine - 17th October (TBC)

Brad Faine hosts has first solo show at Brook Gallery with thought provoking editions.

Rembrandt as Printmaker

For many collectors and connoisseurs the vast range of styles and subjects encompassed by Rembrandt’s 300 etchings make him quite simply the most original printmaker of all time.  His subject matter included self-portraits, biblical scenes, character studies and everyday genre scenes.  Rembrandt’s best known prints include the Three Crosses, the Three Trees and the Hundred Guilder Print.  Part of his great originality lies in the fact that he was continually experimenting and often reworked his copper plates to expand the expressive power of his images.  Today Rembrandt’s original etchings, created between c.1626 and the early 1660s, fetch many thousands of pounds.

Outline Provenance of Rembrandt’s Copper Etching Plates 1669-1786

Rembrandt died in 1669 and about eight years later his friend, the print dealer Clement de Jonge, made an inventory of his surviving copper etching plates.  De Jonge listed 74 plates which he had acquired, possibly directly from the artist.  Sometime prior to 1767 Pieter de Haan of Amsterdam had acquired the plates because an auction catalogue of his estate (Rijksprentenkabinet, Amsterdam) indicates that 53 of Rembrandt’s plates were sold to Pierre Fouquet, probably on a commission basis as they were almost immediately sold on to Claude Henri Watelet (1718-1786), a Parisian engraver, art collector and admirer of Rembrandt’s work.

By the time of his death Watelet had acquired at least 78 of Rembrandt’s copper plates which were listed in a sale catalogue of his estate.  Watelet’s complete collection was purchased by Pierre-François Basan (1723-1797), another Parisian engraver, print-seller and dealer. 

Rembrandt’s Copper Etching Plates and the Basan Family 1786-1809

Pierre-François Basan started his professional life as an engraver, for example he contributed 14 illustrations to Buffon’s celebrated Histoire naturelle, but by 1754 he had virtually ceased engraving to concentrate upon a career as a print-seller/publisher and for which he is best remembered.  Between 1789 and 1797 Basan published a collection of 83 etchings from Rembrandt’s copper plates.

When Basan died in 1797 his business was carried on for a short while by his two sons, Henri-Louis and Antoine-Simon, under the name of Basan Frères until the death of the latter in 1798.  Henri-Louis continued to run the business and as owner of Rembrandt’s copper plates he issued etchings taken from them between 1807-08, the source of the prints which we are pleased to offer for sale here.  Henri-Louis ceased trading in 1809.