REMBRANDT by Gregorio Luke

He is the greatest of artists. At first he was famous and celebrated. But the public abandoned him and he died in bankruptcy. WHY?
About this Event

Rembrandt stands among the greatest artists in history. No painter has captured the depths of human emotion, the drama of light and shadow, or the complexities of the human soul with greater power and sensitivity. Celebrated early in life, he achieved fame, wealth, and widespread admiration for the honesty and realism of his art.

Yet as the Dutch Republic grew richer and more influential, public taste began to change. Patrons increasingly sought portraits that flattered, idealized, and beautified their subjects. Rembrandt refused to compromise. Unwavering in his commitment to truth, he painted people as they were—not as they wished to appear.

His artistic integrity came at a tremendous personal cost. Abandoned by many of his patrons, burdened by debt, and ultimately forced into bankruptcy, Rembrandt lost his home and his treasured art collection. Reduced to poverty, he was even compelled to sell the burial plot of his beloved wife, Saskia, in order to survive.