Rembrandt and the Gospel

At the beginning of his career Rembrandt was influenced by the theatrical art of the Counter-Reformation and used the Bible merely as a storehouse of subjects to paint. Gradually, in the tragedies of his own life, Rembrandt developed a style which in its quality makes him unique as an interpreter of the Bible as a whole. He became a biblical painter. Dr t'Hooft summarizes the biblical message of Rembrandt's art in the works of Ecclesiastes: 'I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God hath done it, that men should fear before him. W. A. Visser t'Hooft was General Secretary of the World Council of Churches.