With 250 colour illustrations.

From the early 1650s until his death in 1669 at the age of 63, Rembrandt produced a remarkable body of work. Far from diminishing as he aged, and despite profound personal and professional setbacks, his creativity gathered fresh energy as he consciously searched for a new style that was both expressive and meaningful. In many ways it is the art of these late years, with its original interpretations of traditional subjects – whether portraits, studies from life or biblical histories – that defines our image of Rembrandt as a man and as an artist. These works include some of the most familiar and best loved of Rembrandt’s paintings: A Woman bathing in a Stream; his unflinching Self Portrait at the Age of 63; and ‘The Jewish Bride’; as well as a large number of his extraordinary etchings, and many drawings in pen, ink and wash that demonstrate his mastery of the graphic medium.

Through a series of thematic essays, the authors examine topics ranging from self-scrutiny and the observation of everyday life, to Rembrandt’s portrayal of light, his experimental techniques, and his engagement with the work of other masters. The book stands as a complete reappraisal of Rembrandt’s later years, which considers his output on both canvas and paper.