. Rembrandt : his life, his work, and his time. beinggreatly to his moderation was re-markable, for, accordingto Houbraken : Helived very simply, andwhen at work contentedhimself with a herringor a piece of cheese,and bread. His onlyextravagance was onewith which Hendrickwas not disposed tofind fault. This washis passion for curiosi-ties and objets dart,which he was just be-ginning to collect. But no one was likely to blame him for thusadorning his dwelling. It seemed, indeed, commendable, and in somemeasure a guarantee of domesticity. We may add that the portraitshe painted of hims
. Rembrandt : his life, his work, and his time. beinggreatly to his moderation was re-markable, for, accordingto Houbraken : Helived very simply, andwhen at work contentedhimself with a herringor a piece of cheese,and bread. His onlyextravagance was onewith which Hendrickwas not disposed tofind fault. This washis passion for curiosi-ties and objets dart,which he was just be-ginning to collect. But no one was likely to blame him for thusadorning his dwelling. It seemed, indeed, commendable, and in somemeasure a guarantee of domesticity. We may add that the portraitshe painted of himself at this period—one at Dulwich, and one atPetworth, both dated 1632, and very delicately handled; one in theHague Museum (about 1633—1634), where he figures in the martialcostume he loved to don ; and two in the Louvre, dated 1633 and1634, where the treatment is broader and freer—all represent him aspeculiarly attractive in person. The last of these, especially, is theportrait of an accomplished cavalier ; his open face and confident. PORTRAIT OF SASKIA. 1632 (Liechtenstein Collection). THE ENGAGEMENT 135 bearing bespeak the full maturity of strength and of genius, togetherwith the easy good breeding of one at home in society. The career that was opening before Rembrandt, his soberlife, his industry, and his personal charm, pleaded powerfully inhis favour. The position he had secured by his talents was such as toinspire confidence even in the cautious minds of the Sylviuses,while Saskia was naturally won by his youthful ardour, and the halo ofglory that already encircled his name. His suit was successful, andthe numerous portraits he painted of his betrothed show that the youno-couple were much together. But, whether to test the strength of theirattachment, or to allow theyoung girl herself to be-stow her hand upon herlover, the marriage w^asdeferred till after her ma-jority. In the interval,Rembrandt fed his pas-sion, both for Saskia andfor his art, by multiply-ing po
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookpublishernewyo, bookyear1903
