. Rembrandt : his life, his work, and his time. S/iiih for the \/cwis/i Hridc^^ {J^\^^)- Ien ;inil \\;i>h.() PORTRAITS OF MEN 165 handsome, delicately-featured old man in a furred green robe, seated ata table. We cannot aofree with Dr. Bode in his identification ofRembrandt himself with the life-size full-length of a man, dated 1639,in the Cassel Museum (No. 217 in the Catalogue) which long passedfor a portrait of Jan Six. The type has certainly nothing in commonwith that of the famous burgomaster, who was soon to becomeRembrandts friend. But neither can we discover an)- likeness
. Rembrandt : his life, his work, and his time. S/iiih for the \/cwis/i Hridc^^ {J^\^^)- Ien ;inil \\;i>h.() PORTRAITS OF MEN 165 handsome, delicately-featured old man in a furred green robe, seated ata table. We cannot aofree with Dr. Bode in his identification ofRembrandt himself with the life-size full-length of a man, dated 1639,in the Cassel Museum (No. 217 in the Catalogue) which long passedfor a portrait of Jan Six. The type has certainly nothing in commonwith that of the famous burgomaster, who was soon to becomeRembrandts friend. But neither can we discover an)- likeness to theartist, either in the shape of the face, the hair, or the expression. Thesitter, who leans against a wall beside an engaged pedestal, surmountedby an antique bust, is fashionably dressed in a black velvet costumewith ribbons, and a. ^-v:4^ black hat. He has theappearance of somewealthy citizen of artistictastes, sedate and self-satisfied. The some-what vulgar head, theexpressionless eyes, thecareful and minute exe-cution of the dress—the gradations of theblacks are admirablein their vigour andvariety — all proclaimthis work one of thefew portraits painted byRembrandt on commis-sion at this period. Onno occasion, as far aswe know, did the masterrepresent himself thus,at full-length, in theconventional costume otthe day, renouncingall those problems ofchiaroscuro and effectsof costume which he delighted to introduce into his own ])Mrtraits. Nor was he at alllikely to have made such a departure at this point ot his career. Hewas rejoicing in his indei)c-nd(nce, and gladly throwing oft thoserestraints to which he had unwillingly submittt-d when, as a new comerin Amsterdam, he had his reputation to make anil his pockets to was now famous ; Saskias dowry and his own earnings had madehim independent. Jealous
Size: 2125px × 1176px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookpublishernewyo, bookyear1903
