Rembrandt Biography - Illustrated Treasure Edition (Volume 1 and 2)

Author: [US] Hendrik Willem van Loon, translated by Wang Yimei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: This book presents Rembrandt's life, marriage, family, artistic views, and creative activities in a semi-novelistic autobiographical form. From different perspectives and complex interpersonal relationships, it describes the unfair treatment suffered by the master artist who lived in the mid-17th century during his turbulent years. Not only was it difficult to sustain a livelihood, but his character was also severely disregarded. Yet, this "painter maniac" seemed to regard insufficient meals as a matter of course. When he was evicted by creditors and his home was sealed by the court, his concern was not where to find shelter next, but rather trying to hide and save a few simple painting tools from the sealed personal belongings, such as a steel needle for engraving etchings. The reading is both laughable and heart-wrenching.
Many chapters in the book are not directly related to Rembrandt but rather the experiences and activities of "Dr. Van Loon." These chapters are the author Van Loon's commentary on 17th-century Dutch and European historical events and the spirit of the times, placing Rembrandt's life in a broader historical context. With the perspective of a historian and a satirical pen, Van Loon narrates from the sidelines the fierce struggle for dominance and overseas colonies among the colonial powers of the Netherlands, Britain, and Spain at the time.