Compare_and_Contrast_Essay_on_Rembrandt

Compare and Contrast Essay Return of the Prodigal Son and Christ Crucified Between the Two Thieves Rembrandt Van Rijn b.1606-d.1669 Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, 15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669) was a Dutch painter and etcher. He is generally considered one of the greatest painters and printmakers in European art history and the most important in Dutch history. His contributions to art came in a period that historians call the Dutch Golden Age. Having achieved youthful success as a portrait painter, his later years were marked by personal tragedy and financial hardships. Yet his etchings and paintings were popular throughout his lifetime, his reputation as an artist remained high, and for twenty years he taught many important Dutch painters. Rembrandt's greatest creative triumphs are exemplified especially in his portraits of his contemporaries, self-portraits and illustrations of scenes from the Bible. His self-portraits form a unique and intimate biography, in which the artist surveyed himself without vanity and with the utmost sincerity. In his paintings and prints he exhibited knowledge of classical iconography, which he molded to fit the requirements of his own experience; thus, the depiction of a biblical scene was informed by Rembrandt's knowledge of the specific text, his assimilation of classical composition, and his observations of Amsterdam's Jewish population. Because of his empathy for the human condition, he has been called "one of the great prophets of civilization. The return of the prodigal son is a famous Rembrandt oil painting which was joined by The Prodigal Son in the Tavern later in his career. It is one of Rembrandt's most famous renaissance paintings. The Return of the Prodigal Son, Rembrandt, 1669 is now stored at the famous Russian Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg. It regularly attracts visitors from around the world because of the fame of Rembrandt and also it's generally diverse collection of art. Other work by this Dutch master can be found all over the world. The subject of the painting, also known as the Lost Son, is a famous Jesus parable found in the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament of the Bible. Christians tend to include it in services only on the third Sunday of Lent. The Parable of the Lost Sheep and the Parable of the Lost Coin precede this in a set of three. Rembrandt legacy in oil painting was undoubtedly strong and this painting represents one of his most famous paintings, as well as a key moment in Christian art which developed hugely during the renaissance and baroque periods. The Return of the Prodigal Son demonstrates the mastery of the late Rembrandt. His evocation of spirituality and the parable's message of forgiveness has been considered the height of his art. Rembrandt scholar Rosenberg (et al.) calls the painting "monumental", writing that Rembrandt "interprets the Christian idea of mercy with extraordinary solemnity, as though this were his spiritual testament to the world. The painting goes beyond the work of all other Baroque artists in the evocation of religious mood and human sympathy. The aged artist's power of realism is not diminished, but increased by psychological insight and spiritual awareness ... The observer is roused to a feeling of some extraordinary event ... The whole represents a symbol of homecoming, of the darkness of human existence illuminated by tenderness, of weary and sinful mankind taking refuge in the shelter of God's mercy. Art historian H. W. Janson writes that Prodigal Son "may be Rembrandt's most moving painting. It is also his quietest—a moment stretching into eternity. So pervasive is the mood of tender silence that the viewer feels a kinship with this group. That bond is perhaps stronger and more intimate in this picture than in any earlier work of art. Christ Crucified Between the Two Thieves or also known as The Three Crosses, is another one of Rembrandt's finest works in any medium and it represents the culmination of his virtuosity as a printmaker. Rembrandt drew on the copperplate entirely in drypoint, which allowed him to fully exploit the velvety areas of burr raised by the drypoint tool as it cuts into the copper. The more distinct lines were rendered with a burin, whereas the softer lines were created with a drypoint needle. Rembrandt used the blurriness of the drypoint line to enhance the sense of chaos attending the Crucifixion and the darkness of the encroaching storm. Lines fall like black curtains enshrouding the crowd, and rays of bright light illuminate the figure of Jesus and splash down onto the spectators. In early well-inked impressions such as this one, large areas of burr appear as tone rather than fine lines. This impression was printed with plate tone, which lightly veils the figures standing at the foot of the cross on the right; a thicker layer almost completely covers the bushes along the right edge. By creatively inking the copperplate, Rembrandt heightened dark and light contrasts, clarified spatial relationships, and produced entirely unique impressions each time he printed the plate. He further varied impressions by printing them on different supports; this impression is printed on vellum, which infuses the composition with a warm light. Vellum holds ink on the surface, softening lines and enhancing the richness of the drypoint burr. In full Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn. Dutch painter, draftsman, and etcher of the 17th century, a giant in the history of art. His paintings are characterized by luxuriant brushwork, rich color, and a mastery of chiaroscuro. Numerous portraits and self-portraits exhibit a profound penetration of character. Another major field of accomplishment lay in the medium of etching. Rembrandt commanded high prices for his prints even during his lifetime, and his technical mastery had a lasting effect on printmakers for centuries. For most modern observers Rembrandt's art has attained a kind of universal familiarity and popularity. Works Cited http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rembrandt Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3246361 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Return_of_the_Prodigal_Son_(Rembrandt) (Understanding Art-Ninth Edition,p140) http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/41.1.31 http://www.aspectart.com/artists/rembrandt.php