Rembrandt: A painter who richly depicted a visionary world. Each of his paintings was a multi-layered art

Although "Man in Armour" is one of the most impressive paintings of its kind that Rembrandt painted, so many ambiguities surround it that they tend to confuse rather than bring out its exceptional quality.

It is almost certain that it is a portrait of Alexander the Great, which the famous master was asked to paint by the Italian nobleman Don Ruffio. However, the original composition was disturbed by the addition of canvas on all sides, which threw the painting out of balance. In fact, Don Ruffio was not satisfied that the new painting did not match the dimensions of his Aristotle, and insisted that it be enlarged to match his growing collection.

This discerning patron had already demanded another philosopher from the painter Guercino - only a drawing of that work survives - and he also urged this acclaimed Italian artist to return to his earlier, darker style so that the new work would match the tone of his Rembrandts.

Rembrandt depicted here with extraordinary power and depth a young man, literally burdened with heavy armour and weapons, immersed in deep reflection on the coming battles. It is remarkable that his armour - armour, round shield and spear - corresponds to a style that had long since been surpassed by the time the painting was made. This suggests that the man is meant to be seen as a figure from the past. His helmet, evocative of ancient times, is a pure artistic creation - a blend of the back of a contemporary equestrian helmet with a faceplate and choker in a style that was then considered classically antique.

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