Since yesterday’s opening of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam I thought you might enjoy the program, The Power of Art: Rembrandt, hosted by well-known British art historian, Mr. Simon Schama.

“Considered one of the greatest painters and printmakers in European art history and the most important in Dutch history. His [Rembrandt’s] contributions to art came in a period that historians call the Dutch Golden Age.

Rembrandt’s success in his early years was as a portrait painter to the rich denizens of Amsterdam at a time when the city was being transformed from a small nondescript port into the economic capital of the world. His historical and religious paintings also gave him wide acclaim.

Despite being known as a portrait painter Rembrandt used his talent to push the boundaries of painting. This direction made him unpopular in the later years of his career as he shifted from being the talk of the town to becoming adrift in the Amsterdam art scene and criticized by his peers.”

You might also appreciate a recent article by Mr. Schama regarding the reopening of the Rijksmusem.  Please click here to read the article.