Simeon's Song of Praise

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Simeon's Song of Praise

Rembrandt van Rijn
1631

145 - zaal 9

Joseph and Mary are in the temple to dedicate their newborn baby Jesus to God, where the child is recognised by Simeon as the long-awaited Messiah. The old man takes him in his arms and bursts into a song of praise. The divine light that floods Simeon appears to be shining from the child himself.

When Rembrandt painted this scene, he was twenty-five and still living in Leiden. He moved to Amsterdam in the same year, where he started to paint much larger works and made portraits for the first time.

oil on panel
60.9 x 47.9 cm.
Collection William V, transferred 1816