Bellona
Original title: Bellona
kurzbeschreibung
In 1633 Rembrandt van Rijn painted Bellona, the Roman goddess of war, in full armour. The picture is an oil on canvas measuring 127 x 97.5 cm and now belongs to the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Description
A plumed helmet rests on the figure's head, and her silver armour carries gold ornament; a blue ribbon is tied at her throat. Before her stands a shield bearing the head of Medusa. The background stays dark and undefined, so that the light picks the figure out deliberately. Muted tones govern the picture and heighten its dramatic effect.
Context
During the 1630s Rembrandt was working in Amsterdam, where he had already made a name for himself as a portraitist; this painting dates from 1633. The portrayal of Bellona, goddess of war, can be connected with the military events of those years. The picture belongs to a series of mythological figures that Rembrandt produced during that decade.
Impact
Because light and shadow are set so firmly against each other, the figure appears large and weighty. The carefully worked armour and the grave expression on her face call up a solemn, almost threatening mood. The goddess's gaze meets the viewer directly and holds it.
Technique
The picture is painted in oil on canvas. For the details of the armour and the head of Medusa, Rembrandt used fine brushstrokes. With his characteristic handling of light and dark he sets the figure free from the dark ground and gives it depth in this way.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)