10 things about Rembrandt & Velázquez

From the series 10 things...

The two great masters of Spain and the Netherlands show many similarities, as well as many differences. Here are 10 things you may not have known about Rembrandt & Velázquez.

Een zelfportret van Velázquez Een zelfportret van Velázquez

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Rembrandt and Velázquez are the two greatest 17th century masters in their respective countries

One came from the Protestant Netherlands, the other from Catholic Spain. The Rijksmuseum and the Museo Nacional del Prado are bringing these masters together for the first time.

Self-Portrait, Diego Velázquez, c. 1640. Valencia, Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Carlos

The Threatened Swan The Threatened Swan

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The 17th century was a period of exceptional artistic vitality in both countries

Tensions between the Netherlands and Spain were running high in the 17th century due to the Eighty Years’ War. Even so, the arts in both countries flourished, culminating in the rise of two of the greatest painters of all time.

The Threatened Swan Jan Asselijn (1610–1652), oil on canvas, c. 1650

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The two great artists never met

Though they lived at the same time, these two great artists never got to see each other’s work – not a single painting. It is likely that Rembrandt never even knew of Velázquez’s existence.

Self-Portrait with Baret and Golden Chain, Rembrandt van Rijn, 1654. Kassel, Museumslandschaft Hessen Kassel, Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister

Isaac and Rebecca, Known as ‘The Jewish Bride’ Isaac and Rebecca, Known as ‘The Jewish Bride’

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Nevertheless, their work sometimes shows striking similarities

The contrast between light and dark, the almost identical palette of colours, their mastery of technique together with the ability to relinquish control. These are just a few points of their similar genius.

Isaac and Rebecca, Known as ‘The Jewish Bride’ oil on canvas, c. 1665–1669

Interior of the Sint-Odulphuskerk in Assendelft Interior of the Sint-Odulphuskerk in Assendelft

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Both artists were major innovators

Both Velázquez and Rembrandt broke with the artistic conventions of their age. They were innovators, not content to simply build on an Italian tradition which set the artistic standard in Europe at the time by looking to classical antiquity.

Interior of the Sint-Odulphuskerk in Assendelft Pieter Jansz Saenredam (1597–1665), oil on panel, 1649

View of Houses in Delft, Known as ‘The Little Street’ View of Houses in Delft, Known as ‘The Little Street’

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The exhibition also features Rembrandt and Velázquez’s contemporaries

The exhibition centres on the work of Rembrandt and Velázquez, but also features masterpieces by other great masters such as Murillo, Vermeer, Zurbarán, Hals and Ribera.

View of Houses in Delft, Known as ‘The Little Street’ Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675), oil on canvas, c. 1660

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Many paintings are making their Dutch debut

A number of the works on view in the Rijkmuseum as part of this exhibition are extra special. Some works have never or hardly ever been loaned to an exhibition before.

Finis Gloriae Mundi of Juan de Valdés Leal on view in the exhibition

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Dutch and Spanish works are exhibited in pairs

The works in the exhibition address themes such as faith, wealth, power and love. A total of over sixty paintings by Spanish and Dutch masters are being shown in pairs.

Works of Francisco de Zurbarán and Adriaen Coorte

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The exhibition features 42 loans from 7 countries

Most of the works on loan, 14 to be precise, come from the Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid. The exhibition features 17 works from the Rijksmuseum’s own collection.

Exhibition view

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Two kings opened the exhibition

The exhibition is a unique collaboration between two of Europe’s foremost museums To underline this fact, it was opened by both the King of the Netherlands and the King of Spain.

Kings Willem-Alexander and Felipe VI. Foto: Olivier Middendorp

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10 things about Rembrandt & Velázquez

Two great masters side by side