Rembrandt (Harmensz van Rijn)
Born – Leyden, Netherlands 1606
Died – Amsterdam, Netherlands 1669
One of the greatest artists of all time, Rembrandt van Rijn trained principally in Amsterdam before working as an independent master in Leyden. His early paintings were of figures depicted in a biblical or philosophical context. He moved to Amsterdam in 1631-1632, where he received his first portrait commission. He made his name with this group portrait, The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Tulp. Unsparing in its depiction of the dissection of a human corpse, the boldly-lit composition is given added potency through the enrapt group of notables, each one a fully realized individual. The culmination of this lucrative phase of his career was The Night Watch, a group portrait of the militia’s defence of Amsterdam. Rembrandt’s fortune declined after 1642. He received no significant portrait commissions and experienced great financial difficulties, which led to bankruptcy in 1656. In later years he reverted to biblical subjects. His many self-portraits produced at every stage of his career provide an analytical account of his life. He had the incomparable ability to capture the outward appearance of his subjects, while laying bare the inner truth of their character. It is the understanding of humanity that makes his work unique.
Masterpieces:
- Portrait of the Artists
- A Woman Bathing in a Stream
Text: The A-Z of Art, Nicola Hodge and Libby Anson.
Books About rembrandt harmensz van rijn
Rembrandt: Master of the Portrait (Discoveries)
Pascal Bonafoux
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Rembrandt Drawings
Seymour Slive
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Rembrandt Harmensz Van Rijn : Paintings From Soviet Museums
Gennady Gubanov
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