Aristotle with Bust of Homer. Aristotle with a Bust of Homer, also known as Aristotle Contemplating a Bust of Homer, is an oil-on-canvas painting by Rembrandt that depicts Aristotle wearing a gold chain and contemplating a sculpted bust.
It was created as a commission for Don Antonio Ruffo's collection. It was bought and sold to several collectors until it eventually ended up in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The mysterious tone in the painting has led several scholars to different interpretations of Rembrandt's theme. Aristotle Contemplating a Bust of Homer was painted in 1653, as a commission from a Sicilian nobleman named Don Antonio Ruffo, who did not request any particular subject.
Despite not knowing what Rembrandt would create, he was already eager to hang it in his Hall of Fame. Don Antonio planned to commission companion pieces for Rembrandt's painting from the Italian painter Guercino.
Guercino decided that a cosmographer was the perfect match, since Rembrandt represented the study of mankind while the cosmographer represents the study of the heavens. However, Guercino's piece disappeared for no apparent reason. According to Charles Mee, perhaps Don Antonio did not think it was good enough. Rembrandt later created two paintings of Homer and Alexander the Great ten years after his completed work of Aristotle with a Bust of Homer. In 1815, it was sent to Sir Abraham Hume and he lent it to an exhibi
It was created as a commission for Don Antonio Ruffo's collection. It was bought and sold to several collectors until it eventually ended up in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The mysterious tone in the painting has led several scholars to different interpretations of Rembrandt's theme. Aristotle Contemplating a Bust of Homer was painted in 1653, as a commission from a Sicilian nobleman named Don Antonio Ruffo, who did not request any particular subject.
Despite not knowing what Rembrandt would create, he was already eager to hang it in his Hall of Fame. Don Antonio planned to commission companion pieces for Rembrandt's painting from the Italian painter Guercino.
Guercino decided that a cosmographer was the perfect match, since Rembrandt represented the study of mankind while the cosmographer represents the study of the heavens. However, Guercino's piece disappeared for no apparent reason. According to Charles Mee, perhaps Don Antonio did not think it was good enough. Rembrandt later created two paintings of Homer and Alexander the Great ten years after his completed work of Aristotle with a Bust of Homer. In 1815, it was sent to Sir Abraham Hume and he lent it to an exhibi
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