The palace collection was started by Peter the Great an enthusiastic but unfocused collector. The true champion was Catherine the Great (Catherine II). She commissioned the construction of the palace and began buying art on a large scale. She acquired the Gotzkowsky Collection in 1763 and followed that with the addition of more than 2000 works of art; many of which came from the greatest artists to ever hold a brush--Rembrandt among them.
The Rembrandt collection consists of forty-three paintings. That number, however, is up for scholarly debate. There are some who believe that certain examples, although beyond capable, are the work of his dutiful students. Whatever the true number, Rembrandt's gift as a master storyteller is evident. And it is clear from his body of work that he drew inspiration from Jewish people and Jewish traditions.
Rembrandt was known to select his models from the Jewish population of Amsterdam. One such model can be seen in the painting above. An immortal work called "The Jewish Bride." And you can see scenes depicting the Old Testament in "The Sacrifice of Abraham", "The Blinding of Samson," and "David and Uriah" amongst many others.
On an interesting biographical note, Rembrandt and his wife chose to rent a spacious home in what was then Amsterdam's up and coming Jewish Quarter. He brilliantly incorporated real life observations into his biblical subject matter. He used what he saw in the movements and gestures of Amsterdam's Jewish population to bring a spark of life to his depictions of sacred stories.
Seeing his genius in person is indescribable. He opens a window into our past. He allows us to see our ancestors and to feel their love, struggle, will and hope.
We visit the Grand Palace and the Jewish Hermitage every time we schedule a kosher cruise through The Baltics. We hope that next time, you'll join us!
