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La Chambre Des Reines
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Paintings
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Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn 1606-1669 
(click on painting to enlarge, then scroll down, left and right)
"Portrait of The Prophetess Anna Reading the Bible" Yesterday I* went to the Rijksmuseum to see the paintings of Rembrandt again. One of my favourites is a portrait called: "The Prophetess Anna reading the bible" also known as "Rembrandt's mother, reading the bible", His mother was 60 years old in 1631 when this picture was painted. She sits in the middle of the painting, around her is darkness, details are hardly visible. An old woman, with a hollow mouth, eyes and cheeks, which are not very well visible, because her hand catches most of the light and her face is hidden in the shadow. The woman is reading or studying the bible with great attention, in a very thoughtful manner. The heavy book seems to float in space. The light comes from behind her, touching on her Oriental-looking headdress stitched with gold thread and her red velvet cloak and shining directly on the Bible and her hand, pointing to the Hebrew letters. Rembrandt painted this old woman's hand with great care, with its thin wrinkled skin and clearly visible veins. (Click again on the painting for a closer look at her hand) I wanted to press this hand against my forehead. I wanted to warm and caress it, like the hand of my own dear mother, when she was still alive. The quiet and intimate beauty of this painting took my breath away. I just stood there and watched, completely lost in time... *Elenor Source: Rijksmuseum
Amsterdam, Netherlands
For more info about Rembrandt
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