Portrait of Saskia in a Shepherd’s Costume by Rembrandt Harmens Van Rhine

Portrait of Saskia in a Shepherds Costume by Rembrandt Harmens Van Rhine

In 1634, he married Saskia van Elenburg, a representative of the top Amsterdam society. This marriage associated the artist with the wealthy circles of society, joined the ranks of his potential customers. Immediately after the marriage, Rembrandt paints a picture of Saskia in a shepherdess costume.

In this work, the artist expresses his attitude to the young beloved wife. She is depicted on a dark canvas background surrounded by a golden glow. A soft, pretty face froze in expectation: while writing a picture, Saskia was pregnant with their first child, who died shortly after birth.

Golden hair in a magnificent veil enveloped bare shoulders. In a hoop that supports hair, like a feather, a branch of some plant is stuck. The loose sleeves of the home dress form fancy folds. With one hand she rests on a staff of grapevine, the second holds a pile of crumbling flowers.

A year later, Rembrandt will write Saskia in the form of Flora, the goddess of spring flowering; in this work, the artist transferred to the canvas all the feeling of happiness that overwhelmed him then.