Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Episode 2

Looking for Rembrandt Series 1
Episode 2 of 3

As Rembrandt paints his most iconic work, The Night Watch, his wife Saskia lies dying. Her death begins a ten-year decline in Rembrandt鈥檚 output.

As Rembrandt paints his most iconic work, The Night Watch, his wife Saskia lies dying. Her death begins a ten-year decline in Rembrandt鈥檚 output as he pours himself into etching instead. Many etchings are erotically charged, perhaps a result of an affair he has begun with his infant son鈥檚 nursemaid. However, that relationship ends with her being committed to a house of correction 鈥� a punishment Rembrandt himself apparently played a role in. These moral and sexual ambiguities bleed into other works. Although he finds new love and happiness with a new housemaid, he finds that he has become Amsterdam鈥檚 most notorious marital embarrassment.

Further shame comes for Rembrandt in 1656 as his debts become unmanageable. No longer able to make enough money from his paintings now that he is starting to fall out of favour and fashion, Rembrandt declares bankruptcy. It is an act that will come to define him even in the centuries after his death.

59 minutes

Last on

Wed 10 Jun 2020 00:45
主播大秀 Four

More episodes

Previous

Episode 1Series 1

Next

Episode 3Series 1

See all episodes from Looking for Rembrandt

Clip

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:07

    Jacques Loussier

    Toccata En Ut Majeur Bwv 564 Toccata

  • 00:34

    Jacques Loussier

    Toccata En Ut Majeur Bwv 564 Fugue

  • 00:52

    Jacques Loussier

    Passacaille En Ut Mineur Bwv 582

  • 00:59

    脫lafur Arnalds

    Brot

Credits

Writer Tim Niel
Director Tim Niel
Executive Producer Ross Wilson

Broadcasts