Rembrandt in America

This week, like many of our fellow homeschool friends, we went to see the exhibit now being shown at the NC Museum of Art: Rembrandt in America. I highly recommend it, especially if you have a budding artist or an older child. I will admit that my 8 year old son, though somewhat interested, was pretty bored with the whole thing inside of a half an hour, but that is to be expected with him... that is his reaction to most tours we have taken at the art museum. However, I will say that the docents did a wonderful job, and it is well worth your time to see these authentic works of art. The exhibit will be at NCMA through the end of January, and explores, not only his life and work, but also the history of how his works have been collected and how many have been found to have, in fact, NOT been done by Rembrandt. My favorite was a piece that Rembrandt had actually signed, but after careful analysis of the brush-strokes (he had a distinctive painting style), it was determined that it was probably in fact done by one of his students.

So, here is a famous painter with lots of students under his wing, who is apparently cutting corners by signing his name to their work so it will fetch a higher price? Ok, so some of that is supposition, but interesting to think about. His realism was a novelty in his day, and the way he paints every blemish and wrinkle and at the same time captures the personality of his subjects is what I find so fascinating about him.
There is a lovely documentary up on the NCMA website outlining he life and work (great educational resource!).