Description of the painting by Rembrandt Harmens van Rijn “Family Portrait”

Description of the painting by Rembrandt Harmens van Rijn Family Portrait

This picture is one of the last masterpieces painted by Rembrandt. On the canvas you can see the family, filled with happiness and harmony. In fact, this canvas was painted rather not as part of the family chronicle, but as an impossible dream, as the people depicted on the canvas never gathered together.

The dominant color of the painting is red. A huge part of Magdalena’s dress – the artist’s brides, the baby’s shoe, the scarlet lips of all the characters – all this stands out on canvas, merging with a beautiful golden hue. Magdalen’s beautiful face exudes a happy smile, and a full love look is directed at the infant, whom the woman holds with her hands. The hands of the woman are not detailed, they are drawn only with the help of alternating light and dark spots. The baby on the mother’s lap with one hand leans against the woman while the other hand clamps the rattle. The smiling

face of the child is drawn directly to the beholder. The predominance of warm colors in the overall color palette of the picture conveys the comfort and warmth of a family hearth warmed by love.

The copper-silver shade of Cornelia’s dress, the girl on the left, sets off the right side of the picture. The basket in the girl’s hands is carefully drawn, and its contents become a receptacle for all the shades prevailing in the picture. The girl’s face is not finished, but the artist has managed to portray her clear profile and slight smile piercing the mouth. It is worth noting that despite the incompleteness of the work, the master left his signature on the basket. This indicates that this canvas was written for staying in the family, and not for sale.

On the left side of the canvas one can see Francois van Beilert – his clothes are absolutely not noticeable, so, only the hair framing a kind round face stands out from the darkened background. This picture skillfully conveys the joy and warmth of the family hearth from the unity of native people.


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Description of the painting by Rembrandt Harmens van Rijn “Family Portrait”