Isaac and Rebecca, known as 'The Jewish Bride'

The name 'The Jewish bride', given to this painting in the 19th century, is a flight of fancy. The sitters probably asked Rembrandt to portray them as the biblical couple Isaac and Rebecca. They are attired in splendid oriental robes, and their tender embrace betrays their great love for one another. For this painting, which was done towards the end of his life, Rembrandt adopted an exceptionally free style. The man's sleeve is particularly interesting. The paint has been applied in blobs and daubs which reflect the light. In this way he used paint to add not only colour, but also relief. From the Vaillant collection (Amsterdam). A. van der Hoop Bequest, 1854. On loan from the City of Amsterdam, 1885.