Artwork
Titus Reading (study in direct and reflected light)

Titus Reading (study in direct and reflected light) is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Rembrandt van Rijn. It dates from 1657 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows Titus van Rijn, the son of Rembrandt, absorbed in reading.
The painting shows Titus van Rijn, the son of Rembrandt, absorbed in reading. He is depicted at a table illuminated by a beam of light that falls directly on the page and is reflected onto his face, creating a quiet, intimate study of thought. The work functions as a portrait that emphasizes the young man's scholarly activity and the subtle play of illumination, symbolizing the pursuit of knowledge within a domestic setting.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1657, this portrait of Titus van Rijn is an oil painting on canvas. The work measures 705 cm in height and 640 cm in width. As indicated by its title, the composition functions as a study of lighting effects, specifically examining the interplay between direct illumination and reflected light on the subject. The piece is classified as a portrait within the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
History & Provenance
Titus Reading (study in direct and reflected light) is an oil painting on canvas created by Rembrandt in 1657. The work depicts the artist's son, Titus van Rijn, and is classified as a portrait genre piece. It was executed during the final decade of Rembrandt's life, specifically dated to 1657.
The painting measures 70.5 cm in height and 64.0 cm in width. It is currently held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
The painting Titus Reading (study in direct and reflected light) is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Created in 1657, the work measures 705 cm in height and 640 cm in width. The provided sources confirm its location within this specific institution but do not list a specific inventory or accession number. Furthermore, no details regarding the exhibition history of the piece are available in the current documentation.
Overview
Titus Reading (study in direct and reflected light) is an oil-on-canvas painting created by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1657, featuring his son Titus van Rijn in a contemplative pose.
Context
Created during the Dutch Golden Age, the work exemplifies Rembrandt's innovative manipulation of light and shadow, characteristic of his period's artistic advancements.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, known mononymously as Rembrandt, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker, and draughtsman.


















