Rembrandt

Rembrandt [1606- 1669] is the most famous of all the Dutch’s painters of Amsterdam's Golden Age of the XVII century. He has been identified as the master of the chiaroscuro technique, a style that shapes all of his works.

His life is bittersweet, he is born as the son of a miller far from the capital city of the republic. He shows premature interest for drawing. In his 20's, his talent is discovered by one of the most important cultural councilors of the Dutch court. He is hired by the court of Hague, the place when he will develop most of his talent. In the follow years he will move to Amsterdam, and there Rembrandt will live as a required painter of the flourishing Dutch bourgeoise. Years later, when he's getting old -in his 50’s- and new public it's claiming for new styles, Rembrandt is marginalized of the Dutch painting scene.

Let’s talk about his paintings. He developed 5 kind of different paintings.

1. Civil scenes.  Common in those times; the motive stressed in some of these scenes are the power, sobriety and wealth of Amsterdam’s society.  

De Nachtwacht - The Night's Watch (1642)

2. Biblical scenes. The tradition demands it. Rembrandt Is in the path of so many other great European painters, specially Caravaggio.  

 

"The storm at the sea of galilee" - 1633

3. Everyday life scenes. The Italians tend to stress the role of Dutch painters like Vermeer painting futile scenes. Rembrandt in some way refresh this tradition, but it also despite it in his early and epic painting. This everyday life scenes are most common in his last period.  

      "The Slaughtered Ox" - 1655

4. Portraits (and Self-portraits).  One of the most profitable activities for a painter in a wealth city is to take the best pictures of their wealth inhabitants. These portraits combine fine technique with assertive details.

 

"Saskia in a Red Hat" - 1633

5. Historical Scenes. Continuous inspiration for Rembrandt. This it’s a middle point between Biblical scenes and Civil scenes.

"Aristotle with a Bust of Homer" - 1653