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Rembrandt and Velazquez: Dutch and Spanish Masters Face to Face with Sabry Amroussi

Rembrandt and Velazquez: Dutch and Spanish Masters Face to Face with Sabry Amroussi


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Based on the seminal exhibition at the Rijksmuseum in 2019, this seminar will discuss the many differences and similarities in the works of Dutch and Spanish masters of the seventeenth century, focusing primarily on the works of Rembrandt and Velázquez.

During a time of war and political tension, the Dutch and Spanish painting traditions were more similar than is generally thought: the seventeenth century is known as the Golden Age of painting in both the Netherlands and Spain. It was a period of tremendous artistic achievement that saw the emergence of two of the greatest painters in history, Rembrandt and Velázquez, the leading artists of their respective countries. Both masters worked in a climate that included many other painters who enjoyed a great reputation, such as Zurbarán and Murillo in Spain, and Vermeer and Frans Hals in the Netherlands. Although there was no direct contact between the painters from the North and South, they show clear similarities, not only in artistic ambition but in the impulse towards realism and their illustration of religious themes.

In this seminar, paintings of highly-renowned masters will be displayed in pairs, combining two works from each country, to explore the stimulating and often surprising dialogues that inevitably arise between the works. By pairing the paintings together, the Rijksmuseum exhibition shed light on their commonalities, although in some cases, the differences might seem stronger than the similarities. Each pair has a backstory, a specific theme that brings the two paintings together. A wide variety of themes will be represented: from concepts such as religion, faith, wealth, or love to artistic challenges such as composition, light, and shadow.

Led by an expert on Dutch Golden Age painting, Sabry Amroussi will also share his first-hand experiences of his time working on the 2019 Rijksmuseum exhibition 'Rembrandt-Velazquez. He will lead us through these pairings with his trademark humor and broad approach.

Sabry Amroussi is an art historian and writer living and working in Amsterdam. He specializes in the art of the Dutch Golden Age, mainly in the works of Rembrandt and his school, and has a keen interest in the Jewish history of Amsterdam. He lectures and teaches on both subjects and gives art historical tours all across Europe. As a true omnivore when it comes to art, culture, and even cuisine, he has worked with and for major museums and collectors, such as the LACMA, Rijksmuseum, van Gogh Museum and the P de Boer collection in Amsterdam. As a guide for Context, he is eager to share this knowledge in real life, always with a big scoop of humor, ofter intermingling art with social life, cuisine, and history.

This conversation is suitable for all ages.

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

Based on 14 reviews
71%
(10)
29%
(4)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
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N
Nancy (Victoria, CA)

Guest did not leave comment

M
Mary Jane Harbison (Fort Worth, US)

This was very interesting and informative. Very different from other seminars that I have attended. Sabry Amroussi is a wonderful teacher and presenter, and I look forward to more seminars with him.

K
Karen Riedel (Bryan, US)
Fascinating art history lecture

This was the best 90 minutes I spent in a long time. I learned more in that time than I have in a year. The lecture compared and contrasted Dutch and Spanish artists and their similar and differing renditions of the same subject or concept.

S
Sue Horn-Caskey (Portland, US)
Excellent Exhibition Survey

Appreciate the opportunity to visit exhibitions virtually.

M
Martha Langer (Tel Aviv, IL)
Rembrandt and Velazquez

It was very interesting and a monumental work of dedication to put together such an exhibition and summarize it for us in 60 minutes. Sabry is brilliant!

Customer Reviews

Based on 14 reviews
71%
(10)
29%
(4)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
N
Nancy (Victoria, CA)

Guest did not leave comment

M
Mary Jane Harbison (Fort Worth, US)

This was very interesting and informative. Very different from other seminars that I have attended. Sabry Amroussi is a wonderful teacher and presenter, and I look forward to more seminars with him.

K
Karen Riedel (Bryan, US)
Fascinating art history lecture

This was the best 90 minutes I spent in a long time. I learned more in that time than I have in a year. The lecture compared and contrasted Dutch and Spanish artists and their similar and differing renditions of the same subject or concept.

S
Sue Horn-Caskey (Portland, US)
Excellent Exhibition Survey

Appreciate the opportunity to visit exhibitions virtually.

M
Martha Langer (Tel Aviv, IL)
Rembrandt and Velazquez

It was very interesting and a monumental work of dedication to put together such an exhibition and summarize it for us in 60 minutes. Sabry is brilliant!