Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Rembrandt Self Portraits

Rembrandt van Rijn
1606  -  1669
Self Portraits
C L I C K     T O     E N L A R G E

1629
Oil on Panel
15.5 x 12.5 cm
Alte Pinakothek, Munich
Picture:  695 x 880 at 300 dpi  -  SUNY

Rembrandt is discovered in 1629 by an influential statesman who procures for him an important commission from the court of The Hague.  


Saskia
Picture:  746 x 1000  -  artMight

1634
71 x 55 cm
Private Collection
Picture:  371 x 480 at 305 dpi  -  Wikipaintings

Rembrandt marries Saskia van Uylenburg, cousin to his art dealer.  He is married in the local church without the presence of his relatives.  During this year he also becomes a burgess of Amsterdam, a member of the local guild of painters and he acquires a number of students.


1640
102 x 80 cm
National Gallery, London
Picture:  835 x 1008 at 300 dpi  -  Ibiblio

Rembrandt's second daughter, Cornelia, is born but dies after one month.  Only Titus, the youngest of his four children, survives to adulthood.  Saskia dies in 1642, shortly after giving birth to Titus.  She is believed to have had tuberculosis.


1643
72 x 55 cm
Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid
Picture:  600 x 785 at 150 dpi  -  Rembrandt Painting

Saskia dies the previous year and Rembrandt's clients begin to dwindle.  He has a relationship with his late wife's nurse that ends unhappily.  She pawns Saskia's jewelry that he had given her.


1658
134 x 104 cm
Frick Collection, New York
Picture:  3054 x 3957  -  Wikipedia

Rembrandt lives beyond his means and is forced to sell his possessions to avoid bankruptcy.


1659
85 x 66 cm
National Gallery of Art, Washington
Picture:  1940 x 2472 at 300 dpi  -  Wikipedia

Despite selling off his possessions the artist still finds himself oppressed with bills and personal tragedy.


1660
111 x 85 cm
Musee du Louvre, Paris
Picture:  700 x 930  -  Brown University

Rembrandt sells his house and his printing press and moves into something less expensive. 


1661
114 x 94 cm
Iveagh Bequest, Kenwood House, London
Picture:  851 x 1012 at 300 dpi  -  Wikipedia

Rembrandt is contracted to complete a work for the new city hall but the finished piece is rejected and returned to the artist.


1669
86 x 70.5 cm
National Gallery, London
Picture:  828 x 1024  -  Wikipedia

The portrait as autobiography was established and defined by Rembrandt.  What began as an exercise in depicting facial expression and role-playing became a chronicle of one's life as it was being lived.




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