Introduction

Jesus and His Disciples

What more challenging subject for a painter than the supernatural light radiating from Christ? Rembrandt bathes Jesus’ disciples in a surreal brilliance starkly demarcating their forms, and proudly signed this drawing in full. It depicts Christianity’s origins in these humble gatherings of the faithful. The figure of Christ here still has the traditional high forehead and almost triangular face.
Rembrandt (Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn) (1606 – 1669)
1634
Black chalk, red chalk, pen, brown ink, and washes on paper – H. 35.5 cm; W. 47.6 cm – Signed and dated top right: Rembrandt f 1634 – Teylers Museum, Haarlem, Inv. O*47
© Teylers Museum