In this lecture series, art historian Gary Schwartz surveys the life, time and work of Rembrandt van Rijn. He reflects on both the 17th century historical context in which Rembrandt emerged as an artist, as well as on his superb techniques. Schwartz presents the listener with a unique re-introduction to the artist's biography in which he gives a vivid description of Rembrandt's life and his rich and varied drawings, etchings and paintings, such as the Nightwatch.

CD 1: A Dutch artist's life
CH1 - Rembrandt's birthright as a child of the Truce
CH2 - Artistic inheritance
CH3 - Biography

CD 2: Craft and specialties
CH4 - Techniques, artistic means and modes
CH5 - Genres
CH6 - Self-portraiture

CD 3: Society and posterity
CH7 - Early patrons
CH8 - Rembrandt's Amsterdamers
CH9 - International fame and posterity

CD 4: Rembrandt's great themes
CH10 - Humanity
CH11 - Divinity
CH12 - His most famous pieces

Art historian Gary Schwartz is one of the most renowned living authors on Dutch art. He has written numerous works and articles on Rembrandt and Dutch art and is the author of The Rembrandt Book. He is the initiator of CODART, an international council for curators of Dutch and Flemish art. Gary Schwartz is from New York and has been living in the Netherlands since 1965.