10 things about Rembrandt & Velázquez

The two great masters of Spain and the Netherlands show many similarities, as well as many differences. Here are 10 things you may not have known about Rembrandt & Velázquez.

Rembrandt and Velázquez are the two greatest 17th century masters in their respective countries

One came from the Protestant Netherlands, the other from Catholic Spain. The Rijksmuseum and the Museo Nacional del Prado are bringing these masters together for the first time.

The 17th century was a period of exceptional artistic vitality in both countries

Tensions between the Netherlands and Spain were running high in the 17th century due to the Eighty Years’ War. Even so, the arts in both countries flourished, culminating in the rise of two of the greatest painters of all time.

The two great artists never met

Though they lived at the same time, these two great artists never got to see each other’s work – not a single painting. It is likely that Rembrandt never even knew of Velázquez’s existence.

Nevertheless, their work sometimes shows striking similarities

The contrast between light and dark, the almost identical palette of colours, their mastery of technique together with the ability to relinquish control. These are just a few points of their similar genius.

Both artists were major innovators

Both Velázquez and Rembrandt broke with the artistic conventions of their age. They were innovators, not content to simply build on an Italian tradition which set the artistic standard in Europe at the time by looking to classical antiquity.

The exhibition also features Rembrandt and Velázquez’s contemporaries

The exhibition centres on the work of Rembrandt and Velázquez, but also features masterpieces by other great masters such as Murillo, Vermeer, Zurbarán, Hals and Ribera.

Many paintings are making their Dutch debut

A number of the works on view in the Rijkmuseum as part of this exhibition are extra special. Some works have never or hardly ever been loaned to an exhibition before.

Dutch and Spanish works are exhibited in pairs

The works in the exhibition address themes such as faith, wealth, power and love. A total of over sixty paintings by Spanish and Dutch masters are being shown in pairs.

The exhibition features 42 loans from 7 countries

Most of the works on loan, 14 to be precise, come from the Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid. The exhibition features 17 works from the Rijksmuseum’s own collection.

Two kings opened the exhibition

The exhibition is a unique collaboration between two of Europe’s foremost museums To underline this fact, it was opened by both the King of the Netherlands and the King of Spain.