Titus at His Desk

Ask anything

• Sheila Johnston asked

  I just saw “Titus at His Desk” at the Rembrandthuis in Amsterdam and thank you for lending it to them. My question concerns its provenance. It has been in Rotterdam since 1940. Where was it from 1655 to 1940? Thank you.

• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

  Hi Sheila, we have tried to answer this question (as far as possible) in a short series of videos (part 1-3) entitled 'Titus Goes Traveling'. You can find it at Youtube and Vimeo:
  part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYHW0JhNbKE
  part 2: https://vimeo.com/114751071
  part 3: https://vimeo.com/128574402
  I hope these video's answer your question. Kind regards, Els

• Amira asked

  Hi, I saw this painting in the exhibition and I found it very interesting. I wanted to ask which place this painting has in your collection and why it was chosen to be shown in your exhibition. Kind Regards, Amira

• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

  Dear Amira, this painting, which Rembrandt made of his young son Titus, is one of the highlights in our collection. It was purchased on the verge of the Second World War and people came to look at it and found comfort in the beautiful image of the innocent boy, who is trying to do what he has been told to do, but at the same time seems distracted by images in his dreamy mind. I think the painting still has this comforting effect. Kind regards, Els

• Mardie Rees asked

  What is the boy Titus holding in his left hand…Besides the paper and quill?

• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

  Dear Mardie, Titus is holding a pen in one hand and an inkwell and pen case in the other. Best, Lisa

• Yuliya Udot asked

  Hello. I would like to ask you about Rembrandt van Rejn. As mentioned in your description about him, at certain point of his life he had become very famous and successful, but later he was bankrupt. What about the last years of his life? Was he able to restore his popularity and wealthiness or did he die poor man. And I read information that after "Night watch" his career declined because this painting was not successful at all. Is it true? Thank you for your answers and for your job! It's such a pleasure to se all these masterpieces and guess about hidden one.
  Best regards Yulia

• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

  Hi Yuliya, it is indeed true that Rembrandt didn't die a rich man. The Night Watch is one of his biggest commissions but as far as I know it was well received. There is so much information available about this painting, I'm sure this would be easy to trace. All best, Lisa

• Rodney Franko asked

  Has the painting, Titus at His
  Desk, been cleaned within the last 30 years? Thank you.

• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

  Hi Rodney, thanks for your quesiton. The most recent restauration of this work took place in 1985. Best, Friso Lammertse