Reality and Imagination: Rembrandt and the Jews in the Dutch Republic | Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Exhibitions
In the 17th century, Jews played a vital role in the burgeoning visual culture of the Dutch Republic—they were patrons of the arts, collectors, and subjects of artistic creation, particularly evident in the works of Rembrandt van Rhein (1606–1669) and his circle. Rembrandt, residing in the heart of Amsterdam's Jewish Quarter, accepted commissions from his Jewish neighbors to incorporate them into biblical scenes and depict them in figure drawings.
This exhibition, a collaboration between the Dutch Art Centre at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and a seminar for undergraduate and graduate students at Boston University, explores the diverse ways in which Jews interacted with Dutch art and culture in the 17th century, utilizing the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston's collection of Dutch art and Jewish artifacts. From paintings and prints by Rembrandt and his school to one of the oldest surviving Dutch silver rimonim (torah scroll crown), the exhibits highlight the visibility and autonomy of Jews within the religiously diverse Dutch Republic.
This is the fifth in a series of collaborative exhibitions between CNA and its academic partners. These exhibitions utilize the museum's extensive collection of Dutch and Flemish art in novel and unique ways to present fresh perspectives and diverse voices, while showcasing interdisciplinary academic achievements. Previous exhibitions include: "The Modern Art Market" (November 2021 – October 2022); "Micheline Votier and the Five Senses: Innovation in 17th-Century Flemish Painting" (November 12, 2022 – November 5, 2023); "Thinking on a Small Scale: Scales in Dutch Art" (November 18, 2023 – December 8, 2024); and "Youth Curating: Death Is Always There" (December 21, 2024 – November 30, 2025).
