Backgrounder
Rembrandt’s Portrait of a Man with Arms Akimbo:
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Portrait of a Man with Arms Akimbo is a late-career painting by Rembrandt van Rijn signed and
dated 1658.
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The painting is a dazzling demonstration of the artist’s signature ruwe, or rough, style,
embodying the painterly brilliance so associated with Rembrandt’s late work.
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The subject of the painting is unknown. Art historians have speculated the subject could be a
sailor, military figure, merchant, artist or pirate.
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Some researchers have speculated that the painting might not be a portrait; rather, it may be an
example of a character study of an individual dressed in historicized costume.
Highlights of the painting’s provenance
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The earliest documented owner, Daniel Daulby, was a renowned collector of Old Masters and is
most known for authoring the first catalogue of Rembrandt etchings in English.
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Throughout the 19th century and early 20th century, the painting was sold and purchased by
private collections in England.
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George Huntington Hartford II, heir to the Atlantic & Pacific supermarket chain, purchased the
Rembrandt painting by 1939.
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George Huntington Hartford II donated the painting to Columbia University in 1958.
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The university sold the painting in 1974 to dealer Harold Diamond. That same year, John Seward
Johnson, heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune, purchased the painting.
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John Seward Johnson’s widow, Barbara Piasecka, inherited the painting and consigned it to sale
in 2009 when it was purchased by a private collector.
Alfred and Isabel Bader
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Alfred (Sc’45, Arts’45, MSc’47, LLD’86) and Isabel (LLD’07) Bader are two of Queen’s University’s
most generous alumni and benefactors.
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Alfred Bader earned undergraduate degrees in engineering chemistry and history as well as a
master’s degree in chemistry from Queen’s.
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Alfred Bader enjoyed a highly successful career as a businessman in the chemical industry.
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The Baders’ philanthropy includes the establishment of numerous chairs and fellowships,
including the Bader Chair in Northern Baroque Art, the Bader Chair in Southern Baroque Art, and
the Bader Curator and Researcher of European Art at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre.
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The couple has generously supported the new performing arts centre, the Isabel Bader Centre
for the Performing Arts. They also gifted Herstmonceux Castle, now home to the Bader
International Study Centre.
The Agnes Etherington Art Centre
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Founded in 1957, the Agnes Etherington Art Centre is the art gallery of Queen’s University, and a
public art museum of national repute.
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The Agnes collects, researches, interprets and exhibits works of art as a teaching and learning
resource for the university’s students, faculty and staff.
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The Agnes plays a central role as a public art gallery nurturing the cultural life of the City of
Kingston and the region, and as a destination for national and international visitors.
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The gallery mounts 10 to 12 new exhibitions each year, and has an active program of touring
exhibitions.
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The Agnes offers a spectrum of public receptions, custom gallery tours, workshops, scholarly
lectures, screenings, studio courses, art camps and school programs throughout the year.