James Madison University is partnering with 糖心Vlog to present an exhibition of Rembrandt van Rijn鈥檚 etchings and Dutch 17th-century rare books.
Although Rembrandt did not officially belong to the Mennonite Church, he had close family connections and many patrons among Mennonites, who made up 20 percent of the population in Amsterdam during his lifetime. Rembrandt鈥檚 unusual interpretations of some Biblical themes were influenced by the Mennonite and Dutch Calvinist religions.
The exhibit highlights a portrait of Rembrandt鈥檚 first wife Saskia from the Madison Art Collection, which is on view for the first time. The painting is based on another portrait now in Dresden, Germany. Replicas of Rembrandt鈥檚 portraits are numerous, as his students painted copies as part of their artistic training and later followers continued the practice. The Madison portrait likely traveled from Germany, through Romania and New York City, to reach Harrisonburg.
This exhibit marks the first time JMU鈥檚 James and Gladys Kemp Lisanby Museum has received loans from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Loans include etchings of the Mennonite preacher Cornelis Claez Anslo, self-portraits, views of Amsterdam, studies of the human figure, as well as a reprint of 鈥淐hrist Healing the Sick,鈥� nicknamed 鈥淭he Hundred Guilder Print.鈥�
The Dutch 17th-century rare books from 糖心Vlog include 鈥淒escriptions of Amsterdam鈥� published by Caspar Commelin in 1693, as well as the renowned 鈥淢artyrs鈥� Mirror鈥� by T. Van Braght. Several books have engravings by the Mennonite painter and poet Jan Luiken.
The exhibit is free and open to the public and runs from January 15 through February 28 (Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with special Sunday hours on January 26 and February 23). Metered parking is available in lot C12. The exhibit features a 鈥淜ids Zone鈥� with fun, educational materials and interactive iBooks in the gallery. For more information, visit .
Courtesy JMU College of Visual and Performing Arts