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Rembrandt's Literary Influence
Books in the Age of Rembrandt
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Trivia Question: Who was Rembrandt's first student? Answer: Gerard Dou. |
Naturally Dou's first works closely resembled that of his teacher. They worked together in Leiden. Later in his career, after Rembrandt had moved to Amsterdam, Dou's style altered. His surfaces had an enamel-like sheen to them. Dou's father was a glass engraver; it is believed this is what created Gerard Dou's life-long love for glossy surfaces on his canvases.
He often painted interior scenes, the subject was usually surrounded by various objects which almost always included books. Dou's Old Woman Reading a Lectionary is a portrait of Rembrandt's mother.
Title: De night school, ca. 1660-1665
Artist: Gerard Dou (Dutch 1613-1675)
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Permanent Collection: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Image Courtesy: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Dou was always accurate to the most trivial detail in his works. He was one of the Dutch Fijnschilders; which translates to fine-painters. These were artists from the Dutch Golden Age who painted small scale works, meticulously, to capture their subject in as realistic a manner as possible.
Jacob Adriaensz
Title: Johannes Wtenbogaert, 1638
Artist: Jacob Adriaensz (Dutch 1605-1651)
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Permanent Collection: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Image Courtesy: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Like Dou, Jacob Adriaensz was also one of Rembrandt's pupil. He is also known as Jacob Adriaensz. Backer.
Adriaensz made a name for himself for the unusual speed in which he produced his portraits. His favored themes were drawn from biblical stories. He was highly regarded during his lifetime; after his death a special commemorative medal was created to honor his achievements.
Title: Young man in a study, 1640-1650
Artist: Adriaen van Gaesbeeck (Dutch 1621-1650)
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Permanent Collection: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Image Courtesy: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Books were the first mass media and played a crucial role in the history of Amsterdam. At first it was bibles and prayer books that were made available to the people. After the invention of the printing press in Germany by Johann Gutenberg, a goldsmith, the demand for printed matter rose significantly. The book itself became an item of value to use it in a portrait indicated the sitter had some wealth, was studied and so forth. During the Dutch Golden Age, books, became a status symbol.
UNESCO named Amsterdam "World Book City" for one year that began in mid-April 2008.
Books in the Age of Rembrandt
Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Schiphol
Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Schiphol:
July 9 through October 13, 2008