Saturday, December 16, 2023

Rembrandt's etchings, and the Worcester Art Museum

 There is something about black and white art that fascinates me.  Whenever I see a great drawing, I find i have an itch to take up a pencil and draw a cloud, an architectural detail, Moses parting the Red Sea (just kidding), but I always get sidetracked. 

And besides, after seeing this exhibit, and seeing the possibilities that a line of black ink can be in the hands of such a master as Rembrandt, well.......

So here is a good sample of the Worcester Art Museum's exhibition. which was glorious, inspiring, and very highly recommended. 

Frieze on the wall of the atrium as you enter the museum.  (about 220 BC)

detail of above

The atrium from the second floor, showing the famous mosaic floor

And on to the Rembrandt exhibit.  I apologize for not having all the titles.  

detail of above
I have become somewhat obsessed by faces in my old age. 


detail of above

The Three Crosses, 1653



The Death of the Virgin, 1639



detail of above
What great emotions Rembrandt can create with a single black line!

A scholar in his Study ("Faust") 1654

detail



Christ Presented to the People, 1655

detail



Landscape with Three Gabled Cottages beside a Road, 1650



detail

Landscape with a Cottage and a Large Tree, 1641

detail



Landscape with a Square Tower, 1650

detail









The Strolling Musicians, about 1635



The Pancake Woman, 1635

detail



Self Portrait with Saskia, 1636



Self Portrait with Raised Saber, 1634







Old Man with Beard, Fur Cap, and Velvet Coat, about 1631

detail



Saint Jerome Reading in an Italian Landscape, 1651

detail

detail



Saint Jerome Reading, 1634



Christ Preaching ("Le Petite Tombe")

detail

detail

detail



Abraham's Sacrifice, 1655

detail







The Angel Appearing to the Shepherds, 1634

detail

detail

detail



The Return of the Prodigal Son, 1636

detail (incredible!)



The Descent from the Cross, 1633

detail

detail (how did Beethoven get in there?)

And to a few of the museum's permanent collection, 




A Sargent not in the MFA exhibition!




detail of above

Aert van der Neer 1603-77
A Village Scene in Winter with a Frozen River, 1640's

detail

detail

detail



Jan Asselijn, 1610-52
Frozen Moat Outside City Walls, 1647



detail

detail

Armor for Field and Tilt of Count Franz von Traffenbach, 1516

detail



Workshop of Jan Breughel the Elder
Venus at the Forge of Vulcan

detail
(speaking of attention to detail!)


detail





detail

The huge Higgens armor collection had it's own museum for many years, but fell on hard
times, and Covid, and so the Worcester Art Museum absorbed that collection.

It is a wonderful museum, and we visited with Barbara and Bill, who had not seen the
museum before.  















     

No comments:

Post a Comment