St Bartholomew (1661)
Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn 1606 – 1669
oil on canvas (87 × 76 cm) — 1661
Acts 1:13 - And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
In 1661 Rembrandt portrayed five apostles. This is St Bartholomew, who can be recognized by the knife in his hand. Rubens also showed the knife in his portrait of Bartholomew.
Rembrandt may have used a neighbour to pose as the model. The man appears pensive, almost lost in thoughts. He is dressed in a 17th century outfit.
Rembrandt applied the impasto technique on this canvas: thick layers of paint, carved with a palette knife. That made the apostle's forehead literally deeply lined.
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