Artwork
Portrait of Rembrandt painting Hendrickje as his Model
Portrait of Rembrandt painting Hendrickje as his Model is an oil painting by Unknown. It dates from 1800 and is held in the collection of the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. The canvas presents a seated woman draped in a white cloth, her gaze directed downward, with her right leg crossed over the left.
About this work
Overview
The canvas presents a seated woman draped in a white cloth, her gaze directed downward, with her right leg crossed over the left. Adjacent to her, a standing figure—clad in a dark jacket and hat—holds a palette and brush, suggesting the presence of an artist at work.
Subject & Meaning
The composition implies a studio scene: the woman appears to serve as a model, while the man, identified by his tools, is likely the painter himself. The quiet interaction captures a moment of artistic preparation rather than a narrative tableau.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the work employs strong chiaroscuro, allowing the illuminated forms of the figures to emerge from a surrounding darkness. This handling of light and shadow creates a three‑dimensional effect and emphasizes the textures of fabric and skin.
Context
The painting aligns with the Dutch Golden Age tradition of intimate interior scenes, echoing Rembrandt’s own approach to portraiture and his frequent use of dramatic lighting to convey psychological depth.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
Interior with a Painter and His Family
Study of a Magdalen
The Education of Maria de Medici (study)
Andromeda
Odalisque reclining on a divan
Standing Female Nude
Nukkuva bakkantti, kopio Fragonardin mukaan
A Life Study of a Female Nude Model Seated on White Drapery
Life Study: Standing Female Nude
Rest of Diana
Life Study: Reclining Female Nude
The Origin of Painting ('The Maid of Corinth')