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Rembrandt
27 quotes
“This is portrayed after my wife when she was 21 years old, the third day after we were betrothed, on the 8th of June 1633”
Rembrandt (1606–1669) said by 1669 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Quote in original Dutch (citaat van Rembrandt in Nederlands): Dit is naer mijn huijsvrou geconterfeit do si 21 jaer oud was, den derden dach als wij getroudt waeren, den 8 junijus 1633”
Rembrandt (1606–1669) first seen 1633 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Rembrandt's inscription under a drawing of his wife Saskia, 1633; as cited in Rembrandt: The Painter at Work, by Ernst van de Wetering, Amsterdam University Press, 1997, p. 47 (translation from the original Dutch: Anne …
“A pious mind / Places honor above wealth - Rembrandt, Amsterdam 1634”
Rembrandt (1606–1669) said by 1669 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“version in original Dutch (origineel citaat van Rembrandt, in Nederlands): Een vroom gemoet / Acht eer voor goet - Rembrandt, Amsterdam 1634”
Rembrandt (1606–1669) first seen 1634 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quote of Rembrandt's, from his short poem, 1634; on his own drawing of a lord with beard, very probably representing the court-master Burchard Grossmann in his 'album amicorum' (translation from the original Dutch: Anne…
“..that I am very diligently engaged in proficiently completing the three Passion paintings which his Excellency has personally commissioned me [to do]: an Entombment a Resurrection, and an Ascension of Christ.. .Of the above three, one has been completed, namely Christ's Ascension to Heaven, and the other two are more than half-finished.. ..as a token of my readiness to serve you with my favor, I cannot refrain from presenting you, [dear Sir, my latest work. I trust that you most graciously will accept it in addition to my greetings.. ..reside [on] Nieuwe Doelstraat [Amsterdam], Feb. 1636”
Rembrandt (1606–1669) said by 1669 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“My [dear] Sir: Let me first offer my kind regards. I agree that I should come soon to see how the picture accords with the rest. As regards the price, I certainly deserve 200 pounds for it, but shall be content with whatever His Excellency pays me. And if you, Sir, do not deem it presumptuous, I shall not neglect to requite the favor. Your humble and devoted servant Rembrandt - It [the picture] will show to [the] best advantage in His Excellency's gallery, since there it will be [displayed] in bright light.”
Rembrandt (1606–1669) first seen 1636 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to Constantijn Huygens (Amsterdam, after Feb. 1636)
“I have read your pleasant letter of 14th with singular pleasure. I discern your kind inclination and affection which I feel deeply obliged to requite [you] with service and friendship. Because of [my] inclination to do this, [and] in spite of your wish (of Constantijn Huygens], [I] am sending [you] along [with this letter] a painting, hoping that you will accept it, because it is the first momento which I offer you, Sir.. ..postscripttum]: My [dear] Sir: hang this picture in a bright light and in such a manner that it can be viewed from a distance. It will then sparkle at its best.”
Rembrandt (1606–1669) said by 1669 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“version in original Dutch (origineel citaat van Rembrandt, in Nederlands): ..soo ist door [mijn] geneegentheijt [voor Huygens de raadspensionaris] tot sulx tegens mijns/ heeren begeeren dees bijgaenden douck toesenden [ bij de brief]/ hoopende dat u mijner in deesen niet versmaeden/ sult want het is die eersten gedachtenis/ die ick aen mijn heer laet./.. ..[postscriptum]: Mijn heer hangt dit stuck op een starck licht en dat men daer wuijt ken afstaen soo salt best voncken.”
Rembrandt (1606–1669) first seen 1639 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quote from Rembrandt's 5th letter to Constantijn Huygens (Amsterdam, 27 January 1639), as cited in The Rembrandt Documents, Walter Strauss & Marjon van der Meulen - Abaris Books, New York 1979, p. 167.
“For some variation it would be better to place the donkey seen from behind [to avoid] all faces looking out of the picture [forward] And the tree could also have more foliage. 1. Joseph has been portrayed too fat and too recklessly 2. Mary should hold the child more gently because a vulnerable child can't stand being held so firmly Joseph is too short fat - his head is growing from his trunk and both [Joseph & Mary] their heads are too big”
Rembrandt (1606–1669) said by 1669 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Quote in original Dutch (citaat van Rembrandt in Nederlands): Beeter waert dat (om de veranderin) den eesel van achteren was / dan dat al de hoofden iuist wt het stuck sien dat oock omtrent die boom wat meerder groente was 1 iosep heft alte swaer en te onbesuist 2 maria most het kindeken wat meerder vieren want een teeder kint magh sulck duwen niet ve[elen?] iosep alte kort en dick / syn hooft wast hem wt de [romp?] sij hebben alle beide al te groote koppen”
Rembrandt (1606–1669) first seen 1643 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Rembrandt's comments on his drawing of 'The Rest on the Flight into Egypt', as remembered by his former pupil Samuel van Hoogstraten c. 1643 (translation from the original Dutch: Anne Porcelijn)
“Try to put well in practice what you already know; and in so doing, you will in good time, discover the hidden things which you now inquire about. Practice what you know, and it will help to make clear what now you do not know. By following carefully the rules of teachings provided that they are truthful, you can save a lot of time. But a student full of doubt is unable to move forwards and to judge well the truth.”
Rembrandt (1606–1669) said by 1669 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“version in original Dutch (origineel citaat van Rembrandt, in Nederlands): Schikt u daer nae, dat gy 't geene gy alreets weet, wel leert in 't werk stellen, zoo zult gy de verborgentheden, daer gy nu na vraegt, tijts genoeg ontdekt zien...”
Rembrandt (1606–1669) said by 1669 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: English text; as cited in A Dictionary of Thoughts: Being a Cyclopedia of Laconic Quotations from the Best Authors of the World, both Ancient and Modern (1908) by Tryon Edwards, p. 131.; second part, transl. by F. Heijn…
“As seen from the Weighing House, the Town Hall of Amsterdam / after it was burnt down. / July, the 9th 1652. / Rembrandt van Rijn.[Rembrandt The Ruins of the Old City Hall in Amsterdam (After the Fire). [ Rembrandt The Ruins of the Old City Hall in Amsterdam (After the Fire) ].”
Rembrandt (1606–1669) said by 1669 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“version in original Dutch (origineel citaat van Rembrandt, in Nederlands): Van d'waech af te sien statshuis van Amsterldam / doen 't afgebrandt was. / Den 9 july 1652. Rembrandt van Rijn.”
Rembrandt (1606–1669) first seen 1278 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Autograph inscription on Rembrandt's drawing of the old City hall of Amsterdam, 9 July 1652; Benesch 1278 (translation from the original Dutch: Anne Porcelijn)
“[..that he] would not touch the painting, nor finish it unless the claimant pays him the balance due or guarantees it by giving a security.”
Rembrandt (1606–1669) first seen 1654 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: from a notary document, 1654 (location: RD, 1654/5, 310); as quoted in Rembrandt's Eyes, Simon Schama, Alfred A. Knopf, Borzoi Books, New York 1999, p. 569 - note 7
“..in order to etch, take white turpentine oil, and add half the turpentine to it; pour the mixture into a small glass bottle and let it boil in pure [?] water for half an hour.”
Rembrandt (1606–1669) first seen 1351 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Rembrandt's 'recipe for a stopping-out varnish' on the verso of a drawing 'Landcape with a River and Trees', undated, c. 1654-55; (Benesch 1351)
“Anno 1659 / On Wednesday, May 14 / You are requested to attend the funeral of / Aegtje Nachtglas / daughter of the late Jacob Pietersz / Nachtglas / at the Cleveniers-Doele [Amsterdam] at one o'clock. Come as friend of the house / Nieuwe-Kerck. [Verso] So eager to catch Christ out in his answer that they could not wait for written reply.”
Rembrandt (1606–1669) first seen 1047 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Inscription on Rembrandt's drawing 'Christ and the Woman taken into Adultary', on the back of a funeral ticket, after May 1659; (Benesch 1047)
“I can't paint the way they want me to paint and they know that too. Of course you will say that I ought to be practical and ought to try and paint the way they want me to paint. Well, I will tell you a secret. I have tried and I have tried very hard, but I can't do it. I just can't do it! And that is why I am just a little crazy.”
Rembrandt (1606–1669) said by 1669 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in R.v.R. : Being an Account of the Last Years and the Death of One Rembrandt Harmenszoon Van Rijn (1930) by Hendrik Willem van Loon
“Choose only one master — Nature.”
Rembrandt (1606–1669) said by 1669 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in Rembrandt Drawings (1975) by Paul Némo, as translated by David Macrae
“Painting is the grandchild of nature. It is related to God.”
Rembrandt (1606–1669) said by 1669 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in Rembrandt Drawings (1975) by Paul Némo, as translated by David Macrae
“A painting is finished when the artist says it is finished.”
Rembrandt (1606–1669) said by 1669 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Statement attributed to Rembrandt in early biographies, as quoted in The Rise of the Cult of Rembrandt : Reinventing an Old Master in Nineteenth-Century France (2003), by Alison MacQueen. p. 287
“A painting is not made to be sniffed.”
Rembrandt (1606–1669) said by 1669 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Statement that a painting should be contemplated at a distance, rather than examined closely; attributed to Rembrandt in early biographies, as quoted in The Rise of the Cult of Rembrandt : Reinventing an Old Master in N…
“version in original Dutch (origineel citaat van Rembrandt, in Nederlands): ..dat ick seer naerstich / doende ben met die drie passij stucken voorts / met bequameheijt aftemaeken die sijn excellencij / my selfs heeft geordijneert, een grafleg[ing] ende een Verrijsenis en een Hemelvaert / Chrisstij. / De selvijge ackoordeeren met / opdoening en afdoeningen vant Chruijs Chrisstij. / Van welken drie voornomden / stuckens een van opgemaekt is daer / Chrisstus ten Heemel opvaert ende / die ander twee [schilderijen] ruym half gedaen sijn.. ..En ken oock niet naerlaeten volgens mijn dienstwillijgen / gunst mijn heer te vereeren van mijn jonsten / werck vertrouwenden dat mij ten bessten sal / afgenoomen werder neffens mijne groeteenissen.. ..[wonend] niuwe doelstraet [Amsterdam], Feb. 1636”
Rembrandt (1606–1669) first seen 1635 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: in a letter to Constantijn Huygens (Amsterdam, February 1636) on a Passion Cycle of 3 paintings, commissioned already in 1635 by the imperial court, as quoted in The Rembrandt Documents, Walter Strauss & Marjon van der …
“Because of the great zeal and devotion which I experienced in executing well the two pictures which His Highness commissioned me to make - the one being Christ's dead body being laid in the tomb [ 'The Entombment of Christ' ], and the other Christ arising from the dead to the consternation of the guards — these same two pictures are now finished through studious application, so that I am now disposed to deliver the same and so to afford to His Highness. For in these two paintings the greatest and most natural movement has been expressed [and rendered], which is also the main reason why they have taken so long to execute.”
Rembrandt (1606–1669) said by 1669 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“version in original Dutch (origineel citaat van Rembrandt, in Nederlands): Door die grooten lust ende geneegenheijt die ick gepleecght hebbe int wel wtvoeren van die twe/ stuckens die sijn Hoocheijt mijn heeft doen maeken weesende het een daer dat doode lichaem Chrisstij/ in den graeve gelecht werd ende dat ander/ daer Chrisstus van den doode opstaet dat met/ grooten verschrickinge des wachters. Dees selvij/ twe stuckens sijn door stuijdiose vlijt nu meede/ afgedaen soodat ick nu oock geneegen ben om die/ selvijge te leeveren om sijn Hoocheijt daer meede/ te vermaeken want deesen twe sijnt daer die meeste/ ende die naetuereelste beweechgelickheijt . in/ geopserveert is dat oock de grooste oorsaeck is dat/ die selvijge soo lang onder handen sij geweest. - in margin: deessen 12 Januwarij 1639, Mijn heer ik woon op die binnenemster, thuijs is genaemt die suijckerbackerrij [in Amsterdam].”
Rembrandt (1606–1669) first seen 1635 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quote in Rembrandt's letter to Constantijn Huygens (Amsterdam, 12 January 1639) on 3 paintings commissioned (in 1635 and started by Rembrandt already in 1635/36) by the imperial court, as cited in Painters on Painting (…
“I am most astonished by what has been written about the [painting] 'Alexander', which is so well done that I must suppose there are not many lovers of art [amatori] at Messina. I am also surprised that Your Lordship [Don Antonio Ruffo] should complain as much about the price as about the canvas, but if Your Lordship wishes to return it as he did the sketch [schizzo] of Homer, I will do another Alexander.. .If Your Lordship likes the Alexander as is, very well. If he does not want to keep it, six hundred florins remain outstanding. And for the Homer [painting] five hundred florins plus the expenses of canvas, it being understood that everything is at Your Lordship's expense. Having agreed to it, would he kindly send me his desired measurements. Awaiting the response to settle the matter.”
Rembrandt (1606–1669) first seen 1662 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quote of Rembrandt's letter, Nov/Dec. 1662, to buyer Don Antonio Ruffo from Messina, Sicily (location: RD, 1662/12, 509); as quoted in Rembrandt's Eyes, Simon Schama, Alfred A. Knopf, Borzoi Books, NEW YORK 1999, p. 591…
“The Ground of Rinebrant of Rine: Take half an ounce of Expoltum burnt of Amber, one ounce of Virgin's was, half an ounce of Mastick, then take the Mastick and Expoltum, and beat them severally very fine in a Mortar; this being done, take a new earthen pot and set upon it a charcoal-fire, then shake into it the Mastick and Expoltum by degrees, stirring the Wax about till they be thoroughly mingled, then pour it forth into fair water and make a ball of it, and use it as before mentioned, but be sure you do not heat the plate too hot when you lay the ground upon it, this is the only way of Rinebrant.”
Rembrandt (1606–1669) first seen 1660 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Rembrandt's etching recipe , in 'The Whole Art of Drawing', Alexander Browne, London 1660, p. 106