ЗападноеврЗападноевропейское искусство от Джотто до Рембрандта

The biblical theme was very important to Rembrandt. In 1634 the artist created the Holy Family, John the Baptist Preaching, Ecce Homo. In Ecce Homo Jesus stands before Pilate, the procurator, the man who is to judge him. Pilate, convinced of Christ's innocence, presents him to the people with the words «See, the man!» – in Latin: «Ecco Homo». But the people and the priests cry out that Jesus must be crucified. The Passion of Christ was a popular subject. Rembrandt painted a series of seven pictures illustrating this episode. Abraham's Sacrifice was produced by Rembrandt in 1635. In Christ Appearing to Mary Magdalen, of 1638, Rembrandt shows Mary's shock of recognition.

Moses Breaking the Tablets was created in 1659. The Old Testament recounts that Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness. At Mount Sinai he received God's laws – the Ten Commandments – written on 'stone tablets'. But while Moses was on the mountain the people built an idol: a golden calf. When Moses came down from the mountain he saw the people dancing around the idol. In the anger he smashed the stone tablets. Rembrandt illustrates the moment just before Moses threw down the tablets.

Besides many paintings of biblical scenes Rembrandt took themes from mythology. In Diana Bathing with her Nymphs, with the Stories of Acteon and Callisto, c. 1634, Rembrandt combined two stories taken from Ovid's Metamorphoses. In the Rape of Ganymede, of 1635, the artist shows how Jupiter, turned into an eagle, carries Ganymede off to Olympus, to place him later in the Heavens as one of the signs of the Zodiac, Aquarius.

Rembrandt was not understood in his own life-time. He died in poverty. But it is the spirituality of his art that distinguishes Rembrandt from his Dutch contemporaries and makes him the greatest artist of the world.

Make sure you know how to pronounce the following words:

Rembrandt; Leiden; Amsterdam; Metamorphoses; commandment; Sinai; Ovid; Pilate; Apocrypha; Abraham; pilgrimage; archangel; Aquarius; Jupiter

Notes

Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Tulp – «Урок анатомии доктора Тулпа»

The Night Watch – «Ночной дозор»

The Polish Rider – «Польский всадник»

Return of the Prodigal Son – «Возвращение блудного сына»

Holy Family – «Святое семейство»

John the Baptist Preaching – «Проповедь Иоанна Кресги-теля»

Abraham, 's Sacrifice – «Жертвоприношение Авраама»

Moses Breaking the Tablets – «Моисей, разбивающий скрижали»

Christ Appearing to Mary Magdalen – «Явление Христа Марии Магдалине»

Rape of Ganymede – «Похищение Ганемеда»

Diana Bathing with her Nymphs, with the Stories of Act eon and Callisto -» Диана, купающаяся с нимфами»

Self-Portrait – «Автопортрет»

Suskia van Uylenburg – Саския ван Эйленборх

Tasks

I. Read the text. Make sure you understand it. Mark the following statements true or false.

1. Rembrandt painted, engraved and drew more than eighty portraits and fifty self-portraits.

2. The Night Watch by Rembrandt was a traditional portrait of the citizen-soldiers in alignment.

3. Mystery dominates in the Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Tulp.

4. The Return of the Prodigal Son is a brilliant example of the highly imaginative Baroque painting.

5. In the Polish Rider the figure and his horse stand forth in a new sculptural grandeur.

6. Rembrandt was not fond of etching.

II. How well have you read? Can you answer the following questions?

1. What does Rembrandt's art remain to this day?

2. Was Rembrandt a master of portraiture? What portraits did he create? What are Rembrandt's best group portraits? What dominates in the Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Tulp?

3. What is the subject of The Night Watch Were the commissioners satisfied with this Rembrandt's work of art? What did they expect? How are they depicted?

4. Why did Rembrandt begin to lose popularity as a portraitist?

5. What is the best example of Rembrandt's highly imaginative painting in the Baroque style? What is represented in this painting?

6. What did Rembrandt paint in 1655?

7. How is The Polish Rider interpreted? How is the youth portrayed? What technique did Rembrandt use in this painting?

8. What role did etching play in Rembrandt's production?

9. What does the Return of the Prodigal Son represent? When was it created? How is the painting interpreted?

10. What mythological paintings did Rembrandt execute?