The Jewish Bride

The Jewish Bride (Dutch: Het Joodse bruidje) is one of Rembrandt’s most tender and beloved late works, depicting a couple in an intimate embrace, traditionally identified as Isaac and Rebecca from the Old Testament. The rich, thickly applied paint and the warm golden glow of the couple’s clothing create an extraordinary sense of intimacy and monumentality. Vincent van Gogh famously declared he would give ten years of his life to sit before this painting for a fortnight, eating only a stale crust of bread.