Protestantisk Barok

Den protestantiske barok i Holland skilte sig ud fra den øvrige italienske, spanske og franske baroks mere overdådige sider. De hollandske malere var mere optaget af de nære omgivelser, og deres stillebens-, landskabs- og portrætmalerier blev med deres objektive fremstilling og udviklet sans for proportioner og lysforhold en form for fotografisk realisme.

Rembrandt er den store og dominerende begavelse i den protestantiske barok og vanskelig at indpasse i samtidens herskende bevægelser. Hans åndelige realisme rækker langt ud over hans egen tid og foregriber senere udviklingsfaser indenfor kunsten.

The Protestant Baroque in Holland was different from the more opulent sides of the Italian, Spanish and French Baroque. The Dutch painters were more interested in the near surroundings, and their still-lifes, landscape and portrait paintings were with their objective presentation and developed sense of proportions and light a sort of photographic realism.

Rembrandt is the dominant genius in the Protestant Baroque and difficult to categorize in the prevailing movements of his time. His spiritual realism goes far beyond his own time and anticipates later phases in art history.