Bill H Ritchie

Rembrandt's Ghost in the New Machine Bill H Ritchie

In 1652, on a backstreet in Old Amsterdam, a paper mill is working into the night as Rembrandt van Rijn, a regular customer of this establishment, makes one of his orders for fine etching paper. The 7-year old son of the owner, Arent de Gelder, goes with his father to deliver the finished paper. A casual gesture by the famous Rembrandt-a gift of an etching to the boy-changes the youngster's life. Another life-changing experience begins on October 31, 2012, when William "Mac" Handyside MacRitchie collapses in his printmaking studio. Mac comes to in a few minutes-but he is a little disoriented. There must have been some magic in the old copper etching plate he had been cleaning with lacquer thinner because, in the time of just those few minutes that he was passed out, he takes a week-long, trouble-filled quest to Rembrandt's time and place: 1660, Amsterdam. Mac's time-travel journey starts out badly as he discovers himself stowed-away on a putrid dung boat along with his Mini Halfwood etching press and printmaking chest. He embarks on a deadly liaison with a wicked procuress, poses as a scholar from the American colonies, and seeks to meet Rembrandt van Rijn. The famed artist, Rembrandt, desperate for money, believes Mac can help him make a comeback as a printmaker and so he covets Mac's Halfwood press. Mac will encounter Arent de Gelder, along the way. The rest is history!