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Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn was a painter of great skill and created quite the collection to look back upon, but most people do not think of an artist for their work as a whole, but rather for those remarkable pieces of work that leave an imprint. Among some of Rembrandt’s more famed pieces of work are his Night Watch, Belshazzar’s Feast, Bathsheba at her Bath, Self Portrait (1658) and The Jewish Bride.

It is impossible to talk about Rembrandt’s art without bringing up his most famous painting: The Night Watch. It is ironic that his most famous painting is also misnamed, its original title being The Militia Company of Captain Frans Banning Cocq. However, it was unpopular during its time and after being rediscovered a century later was named as we know it due to the dimmed color of the picture, caused by weathering and poor condition. After its restoral it became evident that the image portrayed in The Night Watch was actually taking place in daylight.

Rembrandt made his claim to fame early in his life painting large, dramatic religious and mythological scenes in the Baroque style. Accordingly, works like Belshazzar’s Feast, which takes its subject matter from the Bible, is pointedly dynamic and rich in color. Paintings like Belshazzar’s Feast remain known as examples of a period of time in his life where he was inspired and influenced by Baroque artists such as Peter Paul Rubens.

Among his famed paintings preserved at the Louvre in Paris is Bathsheba at her Bath, yet another of his paintings that takes its material from the Bible. It is a calmer painting than much of his prior work, moving away from the Baroque technique and making something more contemplative and tragic. It is considered Rembrandt’s finest example of nude painting and was also his last.

Another of Rembrandt’s most famous works was his Self-Portrait from 1658. He did many self-portraits, but this one in particular evidenced his style and talent in the later era of his life, when he was drawing a great deal of inspiration from the works of Titian, the Italian Renaissance painter. This inspiration led to his works being larger and broader in brushstroke, with calmer imagery in the many self-portraits he compiled in his last twenty years of life.

The Jewish Bride is another of his more famed works, perhaps not so much because of the composition, but because of the controversy regarding who is pictured. Popular theory ranges from Biblical figures such as Isaac and Rebekah from the Book of Genesis to other couples from the Old Testament such as Abraham and Sarah. Some also believe that the couple pictured could be Rembrandt’s son Titus and his wife. It should also be noted that The Jewish Bride was painted in the twilight of Rembrandt’s life and may have reflected a spiritual exploration of love or religion.

Given the breadth of work to examine and the varying talent of the artist, it is never a simple matter to say what the most famous work of an artist may be, as many works exemplify different aspects of his life and career. These are but a few of his most celebrated and well known paintings, revered today as works of a true master.