A History of European Art

Lecture 34: Rembrandt

The Jewish Bride, 1668–69, oil on canvas, 4’ x 5’ 5 ½”

(121.5 x 166.5 cm), Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Night Watch, c. 1640–42, oil on canvas, 12’ 2” x 14’ 7” (363 x 437 cm),

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Raising of the Cross, c. 1633, oil on canvas, 38 x 28 ½” (97 x 72 cm),

Alte Pinakothek, Munich, Germany.

Return of the Prodigal Son, c. 1668–69, oil on canvas, 8’ 8” x 6’ 7 ¾”

(2.6 x 2.1 m), The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia.

Self-Portrait as the Apostle Paul, 1661, oil on canvas, 35 ¾ x 30 ¼”

(91 x 77 cm), Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Self-Portrait with Mouth Open, 1628–29, pen and ink with charcoal

drawing, 4 ¾ x 3 ¾” (122 x 95 mm), The British Museum, London,

Great Britain.

The Syndics (Board) of the Cloth Guild, 1662, oil on canvas,

6’ 3 ½” x 9’ 2” (191.5 x 279 cm), Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam,

The Netherlands.

The Three Trees, 1643, etching and drypoint, 8 ½ x 11 ¼” (22 x 40 cm),

The Pierpont Morgan Library, New York City, New York, USA.

Ackley with Baer, Rassier, and Robinson (contributors), Rembrandt’s Journey.

Simon Schama, Rembrandt’s Eyes.

1. How did Rembrandt use different techniques in etching to achieve
   atmospheric or emotional effects in his prints?


2. Discuss Rembrandt’s gift for empathy using his paintings as evidence.

Suggested Reading

Questions to Consider