Rembrandt van Rijn The Mill Print 11x14 National Gallery of Art

Description: The Mill (1645/1648) by Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch, 1606 - 1669) Details Image Size: 9 1/2 x 11 inches Paper Size: 11 x 14 inches Frame Size: No Frame Medium: Print on Paper Edition: Open Edition, National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. Provenance: Dayton, OH Auction Comments Nineteenth-century connoisseurs considered Rembrandt’s painting of The Mill to be one of the master’s greatest creations. They celebrated the dramatic silhouette of the post-mill against a dark, stormy sky, unaware that the romantic aura and rich golden tone of the scene were caused by darkened and discolored varnish. They attributed the heavy atmosphere to Rembrandt’s frame of mind in the period of the mid-1650s, when he encountered severe financial difficulties. The restoration of the painting in 1977–1979 removed the old varnish, thereby changing the painting’s symbolic character. Under the blue and steel-gray sky, the bright sails on the vanes draw the viewer’s eyes to the mill, which is perched on a bulwark to take advantage of the additional height. Although it is possible that Rembrandt based this scene on his father’s mill on the ramparts of Leiden, he imaginatively conceived the scene to symbolically portray the mill as a guardian, protecting the land and its people.A windmill stands on a promontory cutting into a waterway under a partially stormy sky in this square landcape painting. The promontory and mill are painted in muted tones of brown and rust orange, while steel-gray and white clouds encircle a topaz-blue sky above. The promontory juts into the scene from our left, and the front of the windmill is angled to our right so its golden-tan sails catch the light.Silvery water winds around the base of the promontory and extends to a dark green, shadowy bank on the far side. A boat in the lower right corner of the composition is rowed by a man wearing a red jacket and cap. A path runs to the water’s edge from the left edge of the painting, in front of the promontory’s retaining wall, which is shored up with stones or panels. A person in dark clothing close to the windmill seems to rest their arms on the retaining wall, their back to us. Closer to us, a woman holds a child’s hand as they walk down the path to the bank. A bearded man with tattered brown clothes and bare feet stands leaning against the wall near a woman wearing burnt-orange garment. She sits or kneels at the water’s edge in front of a basket of clothes and holds up a brown cloth.The olive-green forms of the trees on the far bank are reflected in the water, and closer inspection reveals two cows near the water there. Charcoal-gray clouds pile up along the left of the painting and span the top edge. There is a brilliant blue sky beyond and a screen of white clouds near the horizon, which comes about a third of the way up the canvas. Condition (Please see grading guide below) (I) Overall: Very Good (II) Content: Very Good (Toning) (III) Frame: No Frame. Print Only Artist Bio Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker, and draughtsman. He is generally considered one of the greatest visual artists in the history of Western art. It is estimated Rembrandt produced a total of about three hundred paintings, three hundred etchings, and two thousand drawings.Unlike most Dutch painters of the 17th century, Rembrandt's works depict a wide range of styles and subject matter, from portraits and self-portraits to landscapes, genre scenes, allegorical and historical scenes, biblical and mythological themes and animal studies. His contributions to art came in a period that historians call the Dutch Golden Age.Rembrandt never went abroad but was considerably influenced by the work of the Italian Old Masters and Dutch and Flemish artists who had studied in Italy. After he achieved youthful success as a portrait painter, Rembrandt's later years were marked by personal tragedy and financial hardships. Yet his etchings and paintings were popular throughout his lifetime, his reputation as an artist remained high, and for twenty years he taught many important Dutch painters. Rembrandt's portraits of his contemporaries, self-portraits and illustrations of scenes from the Bible are regarded as his greatest creative triumphs. His approximately 40 self-portraits form an intimate autobiography. References https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.1201.html https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.1822.html Grading Guide Notes: The condition grade is a subjective rating based on the observed objective physical features of the item to the naked eye The condition grade does not factor in the perceived beauty or aesthetic impact of the content itself Please view all of the item pictures and video to make your own informed condition decision before purchasing Scale: Excellent: No damage or issues barely perceptible from close viewing distance and bright lighting conditions Very Good: Issues visible from close viewing distance and normal lighting conditions Good: Issues visible from normal viewing distance and lighting conditions but do NOT significantly detract from the overall look of the work Fair: Issues that are immediately apparent from normal viewing distance and lighting conditions AND significantly detract from the overall look of the work Poor: Severe condition issues that require repair and some may be beyond repair Buyer Notes Grinding 4 Good does our best to accurately describe the items we offerItems are offered AS IS/AS DESCRIBED to the best of our knowledge, research and abilityThe buyer is expected to view the photos, video and descriptions carefully and ask questions before they purchaseIf you have an issue or question, please contact us via eBay's systemAfter you have received your item, if you are happy with our service and your new purchase please consider leaving us buyers feedback. 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Price: 35 USD

Location: West Chester, Pennsylvania

End Time: 2025-02-03T00:51:38.000Z

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