Rembrandt's Light

^{Rembrandt van Rijn, Philemon and Baucis, 1658, oil on panel transferred to panel.}

‘Rembrandt’s Light’ brings together 35 carefully selected international loans that focus on Rembrandt’s mastery of light and visual storytelling, concentrating on his greatest years from 1639-1658, when he lived in his ideal house at Breestraat in the heart of Amsterdam (today the Museum Het Rembrandthuis). Its striking, light-infused studio was the site for the creation of Rembrandt’s most exceptional paintings, prints and drawings including The Denial of St Peter and The Artist’s Studio.

Arranged thematically the exhibition will trace Rembrandt’s innovation: from evoking a meditative mood, to lighting people, to creating impact and drama. Highlights will include three of Rembrandt’s most famous images of women: A Woman Bathing in a Stream, A Woman in Bed and the Gallery’s inimitable Girl at a Window which will be displayed side-by-side for the first time. It will also include two works from Gemäldegalerie, Berlin, never displayed before in the UK.

This exhibition is the first to be curated by Jennifer Scott since becoming Director at the Gallery in 2017. Rooms will be designed to encourage contemplative moments, with dramatic lighting and illuminating interpretation immersing visitors in Rembrandt’s world. Dulwich Picture Gallery will work with award-winning cinematographer, Peter Suschitzky, renowned for his work on films such as Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Mars Attacks! and as cinematographer on eleven of David Cronenberg’s films, to assist with lighting some of Rembrandt’s greatest paintings, etchings and drawings.

_{(Photo courtesy of National Gallery of Art, Washington/Dulwich Picture Gallery.)}