Skip to main content

Old Book - find

Visiting a new-to-me recycled bookstore today -- with a huge art section -- I made some finds.  Among them was a book printed in 1893 titled "Saskia: The Wife of Rembrandt".

Having visited Amsterdam in 2024, I was introduced to Saskia through reading about Rembrandt.  Then I saw her tomb in the Oude Kerk (Old Church) while there.  Based on the book, they had a happy life together until she passed on at the young age of 30 leaving her husband and an infant son.  Her father, Rombertus van Uylenburgh (a lawyer and burgomaster), in his early adult years, was having dinner with Prince William of Orange and his family on the night Prince William was assassinated (a long story). 

Also in the book, it mentions Rembrandt was commissioned to paint a gallant captain and his company.  The resulting painting was his "Night Watch" that hangs in the Rijksmuseum.  It further says the soldiers were not pleased with the painting.  They ended up going to another painter who pleased them better.  The book suggests the disappointment with the work may have been the expectation that their images would have been painted to show them in a line -- straight as arrows.  I wonder if any of them imagined the "Night Watch" would become one of Rembrandt's most famous.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Movie Review: Four Hands, Two Sonatas

Netflix has been advertising this limited Korean series recently added to the site's line-up.  The title peaked my interest.  So, I started watching it with no expectation other than knowing it was about two pianists.   I really liked how this Korean production was dubbed in English.  The English speakers (voice sound/tone/character) were terrifically cast as well as the timing of the spoken words' consistency with the mouthing of the Korean actors on-screen dialogue.   This series' storyline has a number of facets:  bullying, wealth vs poverty and access to arts training, musicianship, stage fright, competition, friendship, rivalry, sabotage, lack of confidence, revenge, etc.  The music is primarily classical and is lovely.   Four Hands, Two Sonatas is an off-beat show.  That said, I really enjoyed it (and the piano playing is terrific too)!  As a prior musician--there are many topics it brought up that I understand.   Overall, the...
Post a Comment
Read more

Free Online Creative Retreat: Art Oasis 2026

I haven't participated in this retreat series before.  But I learned about it through an artist I follow, and she will be leading one of the sessions.  The retreat starts October 17th and runs through October 23rd (2026).  If you're interested in an opportunity to play artistically, here is the link for more information and where you can sign-up: https://jessicaswift.com/pages/art-oasis
Post a Comment
Read more

New Project in Progress

I'm working on a new project with multiple layers and shapes of different colored organzas.  It is an interpretation of lighting on an ice rink...from a show I recently saw.  There is a lot more stitching to do, but I like how its coming along.  I'm learning organzas are not easy to work with especially when you layer them and have overlaid edges.  The fabric also tends to ravel easily. This post also linked to  http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com .
9 comments
Read more