Rembrandt's Kris (?)

ariel · 27th May 2012, 01:50 PM

Rick,
Look at the first and second luks: they are not even touching the jacket.
I also do not think we should write it off as artistic license: Rembrandt was very precise. Look at his rendition of the Ceylonese Patisthanaya in the "Blinding of Samson", and the kris in the same pic: one can easily see the structure of the handle ( Balinese?).
I am sure he had a weapon we just cannot recognize easily, but Rembrandt must have been onto something. This was not a quick recollection of something he had seen earlier for a moment and filled the memory gaps: he actually posed for this picture.
I am intrigued.

Henk · 27th May 2012, 04:56 PM

Ariel, I think Rick is right. If Rembrandt was so precise in his drawings and paintings as you say, can you explain to me where the luks on the other side of the blade are?

If you look at the pommel of the handle it could be a Moro kris as well. Rembrandt was by the way well known for his collection weapons from the Orient.

David · 27th May 2012, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

I also do not think we should write it off as artistic license: Rembrandt was very precise.

Rembrandt was, IMHO, a brilliant painter. But his painting style is highly romanticized. It is not photo-realism in style. He used his imagination quite a bit in his work and i don't think that we can accept the depictions of the weapons in his work as being exactly as the models themselves looked. If we look carefully at the gonjo of the Blinding of Samson painting he has clearly added extra curvature which would most probably not be present of on his actual keris. It is one of the great advantages painting has over photography as an art form (though not quite so anymore with photoshop

).

27th May 2012, 01:50 PM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Rick, Look at the first and second luks: they are not even touching the jacket. I also do not think we should write it off as artistic license: Rembrandt was very precise. Look at his rendition of the Ceylonese Patisthanaya in the "Blinding of Samson", and the kris in the same pic: one can easily see the structure of the handle ( Balinese?). I am sure he had a weapon we just cannot recognize easily, but Rembrandt must have been onto something. This was not a quick recollection of something he had seen earlier for a moment and filled the memory gaps: he actually posed for this picture. I am intrigued.

27th May 2012, 04:56 PM	#2
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Ariel, I think Rick is right. If Rembrandt was so precise in his drawings and paintings as you say, can you explain to me where the luks on the other side of the blade are? If you look at the pommel of the handle it could be a Moro kris as well. Rembrandt was by the way well known for his collection weapons from the Orient.