Rembrandt
One of my favourite artists is Rembrant. He is the greatest Dutch master,a supreme genius in the history of art. To this day the artof Rembrant remains one of the most profound witnesses of the progress ofthe soul in it's earthly pilgrimage towards higher destiny. The son of a prosperous miller, Rembrant was born in Leidenin 1608. He studied at Leiden University, but his real vocation waspainting. His rapid success prompted him to move to the Amsterdam in1631.
In 1632 Rembrant bought a splendid house, started a collection ofpaintings and rarities.
The universal artist dealt with many world subjects. Rembrant createda number of portraits and some group portraits which were traditional tothe Dutch art. The best of them are "Anatomy lesson of Dr. Tulp" and"The Night Watch."
In 1655 Rembrant found himself in the midst of financialtroubles. At that period he painted "The Polish Rider", which was anallegory of the man's earthly journey.
Probably in 1669, the year of his own death, Rembrant painted hisfamous "Return of the Prodigal Son", which stands at the ultimate peakof Cristian spirituality, illuminating the relationship of the self to the eternity.
The biblical theme was very important to Rembrant. He painted"Artakserks, Oman and Eshpir", "The Saint Family".
Rembrant was not understood when he was alive. He died in poverty.But it is the spirituality of his art that distinguishes Rembrant fromhis Dutch contemporaries making him the greatest artist of the world.