REMBRANDT Harmenszoon van Rijn
(b. 1606, Leiden, d. 1669, Amsterdam)

A black drummer and commander mounted on mules; riding in profile

c. 1637
Brown ink and wash, red chalk and yellow watercolour, 230 x 171 mm
British Museum, London

Catalogue number: Benesch 365.

This drawing corresponds to a description of African drummers in a pageant celebrating the marriage in The Hague of Amalia van Solm's sister in February 1638. However, the headdress of the second figure is more Hungarian than African.