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The Jewish Bride
Oil on canvas (c.1665–1669) by Rembrandt van Rijn, depicting a couple in an embrace of great tenderness. The popular title is an 18th-century misidentification; the true subject remains debated. Held at the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.
Scholarly Significance
Late Rembrandt double portrait celebrated for its tender intimacy and innovative brushwork.
Notes
- ·The 18th-century title 'The Jewish Bride' derives from a misidentification; scholars propose biblical identifications including Isaac and Rebecca, or Boaz and Ruth.
- ·Van Gogh wrote that he would give ten years of his life to sit before this painting for a fortnight.
- ·Rembrandt's handling of impasto on the couple's garments is among the most technically remarkable in Dutch painting.
- ·Entered the Rijksmuseum via the Van der Hoop Collection.