For today's Friday Face OFF link party
of art featuring faces, hosted by Nicole of
Last month, blogging buddy Jim of The Road to Parnassus
emailed me a copy of Rembrandt's drawing entitled
"Young Lion Resting" and suggested I might want
to try my hand at drawing it.
The original was about to be auctioned at Sotheby's
with all net proceeds being donated to
Panthera, a charitable organization devoted to
conservation of the world's 40 species of
wild cats and their ecosystems.
At the beginning of February, it sold for $17.9 million USD,
setting a new record for a drawing by Rembrandt.
For me, the most intriguing part of the drawing
is the young lion's head, so I cropped the photo
and made that my subject.
Here's my version -- I'm pleased with
the drawing itself, but less so with my
light and shadow work.
[Freehand drawing on brown kraft paper
done directly in black ink pen, white ink pen,
and black ink wash with brush]
The one thing I'm certain of, though,
is that no one is going to give ME
$17.9 million for it, hahahahahaha!
[Art & photo of art © Debra She Who Seeks, 2026]
...one of Henry's cousins?
ReplyDeleteGreat job, Debra! I imagine a billionaire owns the original.
ReplyDeleteI like your version a bit more than the original.
ReplyDeleteIf I only had $17.9M!
👍 Bob is right...I like yours better as well! The eyes of your lion are vigilant, like Rembrandt's, but your eyes seem more ready to do what must be done if threats approach!
Delete🤔 What I loved most in the only Rembrandt I have seen in person was the clothing. A woman in dark, dark velvet, satin, and intricate lace. From across the room, I "saw" fabrics; not a painting! Wow! 🥰
Don't sell yourself short, it is worth at least that $17.9 million.
ReplyDeleteI really like your drawing Debra. It came out super. And I'm glad Panthera got a huge donation by the sale of the Rembrandt. Happy weekend.
ReplyDeleteWell, Debra, this drawing seals it: your future as an art forger is assured. Your prior career as a legal expert might even come in handy.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I think that the main difference between yours and the original is the brightness of the white areas. I can't describe this in proper artists' terms, but if you could have used a gray wash over those areas, or used a light gray ink, the verisimilitude would be striking. Well, let's price it at $12 million, and they're getting a bargain.
--Jim
@ Parnassus (Jim) -- Yes, you're absolutely right -- that white ink is much too white. Oh well, live and learn. Perhaps my young lion made it over to Canada after visiting Rembrandt in the Netherlands and became snow covered in our recent blizzards, hahahaha.
DeleteLive another 400 years and find out, Debra :-P
ReplyDeleteWell done Debra!
ReplyDeleteI love this Debra. Very cool to see and I love that you used brown craft paper. I have roll of something like that and there's a billion uses. Wishing you a wonderful weekend.
ReplyDeletePS: Thank you for you notice in my photography. Seven months ago I started this idea that came from Karl Taylor. He told someone else to aim for one good photo per day for six months, there was more to it than that but that's the gist.
So I decided to take that onboard for myself and it's revealed a style that I really enjoy shooting which involves inverse square law. Pretty neat stuff.
Have a groovy weekend. Cheers and boogie boogie ❤️
You always have me at ‘freehand’.
ReplyDeleteVery impressive. And I’m glad the money will be used for conservation!
XOXO
Well done. Have a wonderful weekend.
ReplyDeleteHello. Your version looks beautiful and full of life. Don’t worry about the $17.9 million the joy of creating art is already priceless
ReplyDeleteYou are simply incredibly talented. You GOT that lion. Skin and soul.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE it...just the way it is and the fact that you used brown kraft paper is what really makes it pop. You are SOOO talented. Hmmm I'd like just a teeny bit of those millions...sigh....xo Diana
ReplyDeleteMaybe not, but well done!
ReplyDelete🥺 Sorry, a little bit 🤏, for USA women's hockey win over Canada in overtime! That heated rivalry is still friendly, though! Isn't it? 😊
ReplyDeleteMy favorite hockey show on TV is "Shoresy." Hilarious dialogue; not much romance; love that parrot! 🦜🤣
@ Cleora Borealis -- It was a good game, even if it ended for us with the Silver Medal. Still a worthy achievement. "Shoresy" is on my "to watch" list -- perhaps I'll do so in the summer when there's no actual hockey to watch on TV. I'm sure you know that the showrunner on "Shoresy" is the same guy that created "Heated Rivalry" too.
DeleteDon't undersell yourself your work, for you never know!
ReplyDeleteDebra what a wonderful post. I watched the entire video. Very interesting. As for your art, I love your version of this. The black and white do compliment each other along with the brown paper. I think it is brilliant. You captured the eyes too. Also the fact that you create free hand with ink! It's superb and I thank you for sharing with FFO. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteYa done good, Deb!!
ReplyDeletebobbie
Awesome rendition of the tiger ~ worth a million at least ~ hugs,
ReplyDeleteYou are a talent, Debra.
ReplyDeleteIt’s truly magnificent art dear Debra 👌♥️👍
ReplyDeleteI don’t know about 17million but I believe your work would have made you rich if you had exhibited it ,I can feel that honestly my amazingly talented friend 🥹🥰
I loved this,you have done great job here 👍♥️
Your lion drawing is excellant 👍🏼🤩
ReplyDeleteThe match just ended to the loose of our Lions which is the name of our team. It was near too exciting to me... they play to morrow of the prons.
Congrats to Canada 🎉
Have nice weekend 😊
@ sirkkis -- It was the most exciting hockey game of the Olympics so far! SO MUCH DRAMA! I didn't think Canada could do it, but the hockey gods were on our side. Good luck to Finland in tomorrow's game for the bronze.
DeleteAbsolutely wonderful! I love your version! Truly wonderful. Have a lovely weekend!
ReplyDeleteOver 17 million ?
ReplyDeleteThe super rich invest in art. The hope is that they will have
donate their purchases to public galleries.
Rembrandt lived so frugally. In happy domesticity.
His imaginary portrait of King David is haunting. A broken man.
Very good! I don't think I could do that. I'm not as talented.
ReplyDeleteWonderful work, Debra.
ReplyDeleteWow Debra - your version is excellent. And your lion has the same intense expression in the eyes as Rembrandt's. This is fabulous.
ReplyDeleteJust wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how embarrassed Rembrandt would be to see how much his sketches and drawings fetch - particularly how financially horrible his life became towards the latter part of his life after the death of his beloved siskia. He was penniless and declared bankrupt and he couldn't sell anything. :(
I'm off to an exhibition in Scotland next week to see some renaissance drawings. Very excited.
Oh my, that is so very good, Debra. When I saw your video of Jeremy Irons, I called out to Richard, "Isn't there some reason that I am annoyed that they didn't get his voice for Scar in some later production of Lion King?". He said that they didn't use his voice for the live action film.
ReplyDeleteOh, I really like that.
ReplyDeleteYou are right ... no one is going to give you 17 million for it because you have to be dead and famous. You will be famous, at least among your friends, but we don't want you dead so just appreciate that using a different medium, you created a handsome resting lion. A Henry, if you will. And Henry would be pleased ...
ReplyDeleteAndrea @ From the Sol
Dear Debra, I absolutely love your art. You are very talented 👏 ❤️
ReplyDeleteYou painted so well
ReplyDeleteIt looks great Debra, great job. You are very talented.
ReplyDeleteMy God, you're talented too! Share some of this talent missy. Great great job Debra. ❤️
ReplyDeleteBit late and go with Tom and also say, well done.
ReplyDeleteIt's better than I could have done. Mine would have looked like Snagglepus. Exit stage left.
ReplyDeleteExcellent work, Debra! In the original I'm intrigued by the "scribbles". I'm glad the money is going to wildlife conservancy!
ReplyDeleteI'll give you 17.9 ... something ... I'll work on it and get back to you.
ReplyDeleteMaybe not in the millions, but I bet if you put it up for sale, you'd get a nice price. It's very good indeed!
ReplyDeleteYou've done a good job with your lion.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes his worth more than yours? This is what I don't understand about art. Love yours.
ReplyDeleteGiven that you did it freehand, your young lion is great! The nose is a little narrow for a big cat, but you did a wonderful job on the eyes which are much more expressive than in Rembrandt's drawing.
ReplyDelete@ Tundra Bunny -- Thanks! Yeah, I think I outdid him on the eyes too.
DeleteYour drawing is amazing..I love it...I would be just as happy with yours and I may be able to afford yours..at least today..but seriously it's great!!
ReplyDelete