What Is The Difference Between Velazquez And Rembrandt

Diego Velázquez and Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn are two of the forefront artists of the Baroque period, Velazquez a catholic and Rembrandt a protestant. Looking at Velazquez’s Self Portrait (c 1640) and Rembrandt’s Self Portrait at the Age of 34 (1640) you can see their similarities in honesty, chiaroscuro, and naturalism.
Both works have such an honesty sincerity in the expression of brushwork and detail. Each has a masterful execution of chiaroscuro, but Velazquez’s Self Portrait takes it a step further with its tenebrism, making the lighting of the portraiture especially dramatic and dark, making his face really jump to the viewer’s attention. The naturalistic style that both pieces possess is likely influenced by the master Renaissance
Rembrandt, in the Netherlands, was at the height of his career, renowned for his portraitures, landscapes and narrative scenes from the Bible. Velazquez, in Spain, was an exceptional court painter for King Philip IV and painted many portraitures for him already. Seen in Rembrandt's Self Portrait, at this point he is confident and affluent and shows it with his self-assured pose in 16th century costume, likely referring to the great master artists of the Renaissance. Unlike Rembrandt, Velazquez is seen in a rather dark shirt or vest with a very simple golilla neck collar. Velazquez’s portrait is physically smaller, with dimensions of 45 x 38 cm while Rembrandt’s portrait is much larger at 91 × 75 cm. His piece is also significantly less detailed than Rembrandt’s, with larger brushwork making up light hitting Velazquez’s flesh and collar. Self Portrait at the Age of 34 is exceptionally detailed, from the depth in Rembrandt’s eyes down to the fur around his neck and embroidery in his shirt. And while marvelous, a clear reason as to why these self portraits were made is not entirely known, perhaps they were introspective studies, created to sell off to patrons, or done as