Description
The painting St Bartholomew by the Dutch master Rembrandt is a work that stands out for its intensity and drama. The figure of the saint, represented with an expression of pain and suffering, is the center of the composition. The light, which falls diagonally on the character, creates a chiaroscuro effect that accentuates the drama of the scene.
Rembrandt's artistic style, characterized by his loose brushwork technique and his ability to capture light and shadow, is evident in this work. The artist uses a sober and dark color palette, in which brown, gray and black tones predominate. However, the deep red of Bartholomew's tunic and the white of his skin contrast with the dark background and give an effect of lightness.
The history of the painting is interesting, as it was commissioned by the Dutch surgeon and anatomist Nicolaes Tulp in 1634 for his dissection room. The work was part of a series of portraits of members of the surgeons' guild, and was used to illustrate anatomy lessons. The figure of Bartholomew, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, was related to anatomy due to his martyrdom, in which he was skinned alive.
A little-known aspect of the work is that it was stolen in 1990 from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, and has still not been recovered. The painting, along with thirteen other masterpieces, was stolen by a group of thieves posing as police officers. The investigation is still open and the painting remains one of the most sought after in the art world.
In summary, Rembrandt's painting St Bartholomew is a work that stands out for its technique, its intensity and its drama. His story and his disappearance make it an even more interesting and enigmatic work.