Remberandt 11

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669)

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669) was one of the greatest painters of all time. He was born and worked in the Netherlands, studied briefly at the University of Leiden, his hometown, but preferred painting. From 1631 he lived in Amsterdam, and painted portraits of men and women commissioned by the city’s wealthy. However, he also painted other paintings during this period, including dramatic scenes and landscapes. From 1639 he lived in a large house bordering the Jewish quarter, the payments for which consumed his money. In his later years he painted many biblical scenes that showed knowledge and understanding that perhaps stemmed from his connections with his Jewish neighbors, some of whom he painted in his portraits of the elderly. Among his famous paintings are “The Anatomy Lesson,” “The Night Watch,” “The Feast of Belshazzar” which reveals why no one could read the writing on the wall, “Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife,” “David Playing before Saul,” and “The Jewish Bride.”

Courtesy of Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality. Author of the street guide: Yehiam Pedan