An Old Master Revivified: Rembrandt Among 19th Century French Artists

In the nineteenth century, French artists and critics identified Rembrandt as an important precursor for their own goals, and he was crafted as a mentor particularly for printmakers. Books and articles on Rembrandt proliferated and numerous scenes depicting fictional narratives brought the events of his daily life before a broad public. Three such works are considered here and demonstrate how Rembrandt was made into a more accessible old master …