Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn: Simeon in the Temple (1631)
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This
magnificent painting gives a good example of the handling of light by
Rembrandt. Subject of the painting is Luke 2:25–35. Mary, Joseph and the baby
Jesus went to the Temple to present their new child. According to the story, an
old man called Simeon had been visited by the Holy Spirit and was told that he
would not die until he had seen the Lord's Christ. When Mary, Joseph and the
baby Jesus entered the temple, Simeon immediately recognized Jesus as new
Messiah. He took Jesus in his arms and praised the child and God. Rembrandt
shows us this event taking place. Simeon
has Jesus in his arms and Mary and Joseph are looking at both of them. The only
source of light in the painting come from the baby Jesus himself. This light of
Jesus is a reference to Luke 2: 32 which says that Jesus will be 'a light for
revelation to the Gentiles'. Rembrandt was only 25 when he painted this
in 1631.