Dutch Masters: The Age of Rembrandt

Professor William Kloss, Independent Art Historian for the Smithsonian Institution, presents the 36-part Dutch Masters: The Age of Rembrandt, another outstanding course from The Teaching Company's “Great Lecture” series. How did such a small country produce so many timeless masterpieces in a relatively short amount of time? Kloss addresses this question, citing a census of the period that counted more artists than bakers, while also looking at the religious and political upheaval of the 16th and 17th centuries that formed the backdrop against which the Dutch Masters created their extraordinary depictions of everyday life and masterpieces of portraiture. Kloss examines the work of Frans Hals, Jan Steen, Pieter de Hooch, Johannes Vermeer, Van Goyen, Ruisdael, and Rembrandt, touching on each artist's use of light and shadow, color, figure placement, and other elements reflective of the period. A fine treatment—with separately available course books including lecture outlines, transcripts, maps, a timeline, glossary, and bibliography—Dutch Masters will make an excellent addition for academic, public, and high school libraries. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (L. Stevens)