AllMovie

Dutch-born Rembrandt Van Rijn (1606-1669) was arguably the most famous and celebrated painter who ever lived. But wherein lay the secrets of Rembrandt's seemingly inimitable technique? This documentary on the artist sets out to answer that question, via such techniques as x-rays and infrared rays. It also explores the events of Rembrandt's life through his paintings, from his birth and childhood in Leiden through his artistic peak in Amsterdam - touching on such subtopics as his mentors, his studio, his often tumultuous romances, and ultimately, the celebrity that he achieved. Throughout, the program provides a systematic analysis of many of the subject's paintings, with a particularly strong emphasis on The Nightwatch (1642).