Rembrandt and the Divine

By L Silver

Because Dutch seventeenth-century painting is primarily known for itsnaturalism, representing the divine posed particular problems forpainters of religious stories, especially Rembrandt. Indeed, if seeingis believing, then the visible presence of angels - and finally thepresence on earth of Christ as the divine Incarnation in the flesh -could confirm to the senses the presence of divine providence in theworld. Angels also evoke a sense of wonder in all who behold them, thosewho are blessed to receive their visitation from a watchful, ifinvisible God. Like John Calvin, Rembrandt carefully read his Bible. Thus his angels, represented traditionally as winged creatures, actively participate inimportant religious events, particularly in Old Testament scenes, beginning with Abraham. In later biblical history, however, angelicappearances diminish; both God - and angels as His agents - interveneless directly to interact with humankind. In Rembrandt's art, angels areactive and visible, but sometimes they reveal their identity just asthey disappear, flying away. Other Rembrandt religious images conveydivine presence only through light rays from above. With the NewTestament advent of Christ, however, angelic attendants chiefly magnifythe divine nature of Jesus in the world. Following the theology of JohnCalvin that dominated Dutch spirituality, Rembrandt allows his piousviewers to behold those very angels or, like Mary Magdalene and theapostles, even to view the divine nature of the risen Christ.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9042935685
• ISBN13: 9789042935686
• Release Date: February 2018
• Publisher: Peeters
• Length: 118 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.7" x 9.5"