Flora (1634)

Rembrandt (1606-1669)

Flora
1634
Oil on canvas, 125 x 101 cm
Hermitage MuseumSaint Petersburg

Rembrandt van Rijn, the greatest artist of the Golden Age of the Dutch school, is represented in the Hermitage with remarkable fullness: besides a superb collection of etchings, the museum possesses over 20 paintings belonging various stages in his career – from the early miniature Old warrior to one of the most important last works – The Return of the Prodigal Son. Flora reflects Rembrandt’s mood in the happiest period in his life, soon after his move from Leiden to Amsterdam. Fortune was smiling on the artist, his fame was growing, he was young, in love and had just celebrated his marriage to Saskia van Uylenburgh. His life was blooming: it is no coincidence that the image of Flora, the ancient goddess of spring and flowers, appeared in Rembrandt’s paintings and drawings of this period and the artist invariably invested her with the features of his young wife. Dressed in sumptuous old-fashioned clothing, crowned with a luxuriant wreath and holding a staff, Saskia-Flora stands in a shady grotto, her head slightly bowed and her pretty young face turned to the viewer. She seems a little embarrassed by the role that her husband has imposed on her and that gives her appearance a sense of deep sincerity and intimacy. The colours play in the silk of her dress, the silver embroidery sparkles, the pearl necklace gleams in the semi-darkness and the many-coloured petals of the flowers glow. The warm light that caresses her figure is like a materialization of Rembrandt’s love. (SHM)

See also:

• Uylenburgh, Saskia van (1612-1642)