Rembrandt's Mother. Myth and Reality

In these works an old woman is frequently portrayed who has traditionally been held to be Rembrandt's mother, Neeltje Willemsdr. van Zuijdtbroek. Whether Rembrandt really depicted her or whether this is a myth which has persisted for centuries is still not clear. This book discusses the creation of this myth, which although not firmly based on facts, has been an essential part of Rembrandt's image for centuries. The works for which Rembrandt's mother was the model and which are reproduced in this book give an idea of the young artist's iconographic interests.