€9m Rembrandt work puts the artist's humanity in the frame

'Let The Little Children Come Unto Me', which was auctioned in London, was painted during a time of growing religious intolerance, writes Des O'Sullivan

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn's 'Let The Little Children Come Unto Me', c.1627, before and after restoration.

A fascinating insight into Rembrandt’s tolerance and humanity is contained in a rare early history painting that made £8 million (€9,388,000) at Sotheby’s in London this month.

The work Let The Little Children Come Unto Me was painted around 1627 against a background of growing religious intolerance and hatred of refugees. This was the height of the 30 Years’ War, which began in 1618 as a religious dispute.

Rembrandt’s mother had Catholic roots, and his father was Protestant.

The young Rembrandt made this work after his return to Leiden following an apprenticeship in Amsterdam. In no other image did he bring his family together so completely. There is a vivid self-portrait, depictions of his father and his mother and possibly his godparents and godsister.

The unfinished original was completed by an unknown artist.

A painstaking restoration over the last decade revealed what had been painted by Rembrandt’s own hand. The tall figure in the centre originally wore a turban. The turban was replaced during repainting by a soft hat.

The presence of a possibly Muslim figure in Rembrandt’s hand is important because Jewish and Christian faiths are represented in the painting. Leiden was then full of refugees, with religious disputes spilling onto the street. It is entirely plausible that Rembrandt was using this image — subsequently doctored by others — to promote tolerance between faiths.