Rembrandt Swanenburch's Painting Style Changes From Smooth To Rough
Rembrandt’s painting style changes from ‘smooth’ to ‘rough’ when he moves from Leiden to Amsterdam. Explain these stylistic differences and developments and set them against the context in which these works were produced.
Amelia Bolton
2041751B
Word Count:
Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn was born in Leiden on July 15, 1606. One of the most important artists throughout Dutch history, he was a painter and an etcher of very high merit. This study shall look at his years of painting, focusing on the development of his techniques and highlighting the main influences that resulted in the change of his painting style when he moved from his birthplace of Leiden too the bustling and cultural capital of the Netherlands, …show more content…
The depiction of such reactions later became one of Rembrandt’s most important artistic aims.”1 It was clear from these early days, that Rembrandt would make his name in the world of art, due to his natural abilities of great imagination and creativity. However under the instructions of Swanenburch he developed the rudiments and principles of the art of painting and also picked up Swanenburch’s use of monochrome colours which became a recurring theme throughout Rembrandts paintings.2 After learning all he could from Swanenburch, Rembrandt moved on to work under Pieter Lastman for a short period of 6 months during 1624 in Amsterdam. “There remains no trace of his association with the city during this brief residence. Upon its effect on his art we can only speculate from what is known of Lastman’s own.”3 Lastman was born in 1583 and had travelled to Italy where he developed a style of history painting that was unique and unseen …show more content…
Rembrandt made his studies from life rather than take the figures from Lucas van Leyden’s memorial altar and etching of this theme.10 In this painting the use of chiaroscuro again highlights the thick folds in the garments worn by the apostles. There is only one source of light, it comes through the window and draws attention to Pauls face and the bible he is pointing at. “He abandoned the bright, metallic colour range favoured by Lastman. In its place Rembrandt modified a then fashionable Caravaggesque idiom, by concentrating light in one focal point and for the rest working in a muted tone, which gave maximum effect to resonant colour. He was always to rely on this inherently dramatic use of light.”11 You can see his use of smooth strokes carefully depicting details from the wrinkles in the faces of the apostles, too the pages of the old books. Notice how Rembrandt has left out the attributes that so often represent Peter and Paul, the key and the sword. Christian Tumpel said he did this so that he could make the “history recognisable by the depiction of place.”12 This was also achieved by the placement of academic objects surrounding the two men; the globe would suggest the international importance of their discussion. One of Rembrandts most desirable traits was how he chooses to paint the more unobvious and obscure moments of historical scenes using subtle detailing to show what the
Amelia Bolton
2041751B
Word Count:
Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn was born in Leiden on July 15, 1606. One of the most important artists throughout Dutch history, he was a painter and an etcher of very high merit. This study shall look at his years of painting, focusing on the development of his techniques and highlighting the main influences that resulted in the change of his painting style when he moved from his birthplace of Leiden too the bustling and cultural capital of the Netherlands, …show more content…
The depiction of such reactions later became one of Rembrandt’s most important artistic aims.”1 It was clear from these early days, that Rembrandt would make his name in the world of art, due to his natural abilities of great imagination and creativity. However under the instructions of Swanenburch he developed the rudiments and principles of the art of painting and also picked up Swanenburch’s use of monochrome colours which became a recurring theme throughout Rembrandts paintings.2 After learning all he could from Swanenburch, Rembrandt moved on to work under Pieter Lastman for a short period of 6 months during 1624 in Amsterdam. “There remains no trace of his association with the city during this brief residence. Upon its effect on his art we can only speculate from what is known of Lastman’s own.”3 Lastman was born in 1583 and had travelled to Italy where he developed a style of history painting that was unique and unseen …show more content…
Rembrandt made his studies from life rather than take the figures from Lucas van Leyden’s memorial altar and etching of this theme.10 In this painting the use of chiaroscuro again highlights the thick folds in the garments worn by the apostles. There is only one source of light, it comes through the window and draws attention to Pauls face and the bible he is pointing at. “He abandoned the bright, metallic colour range favoured by Lastman. In its place Rembrandt modified a then fashionable Caravaggesque idiom, by concentrating light in one focal point and for the rest working in a muted tone, which gave maximum effect to resonant colour. He was always to rely on this inherently dramatic use of light.”11 You can see his use of smooth strokes carefully depicting details from the wrinkles in the faces of the apostles, too the pages of the old books. Notice how Rembrandt has left out the attributes that so often represent Peter and Paul, the key and the sword. Christian Tumpel said he did this so that he could make the “history recognisable by the depiction of place.”12 This was also achieved by the placement of academic objects surrounding the two men; the globe would suggest the international importance of their discussion. One of Rembrandts most desirable traits was how he chooses to paint the more unobvious and obscure moments of historical scenes using subtle detailing to show what the