Rembrandt night watch value

Perhaps Schama is not the Ideal Guide to Art History

Watching the historian Simon Schama present an art history program is an interesting experience.

Rembrandt the night watch history

He is obviously well versed in his subject, and has an enthusiastic need to communicate to his viewers; but at the same time the content pf his documentaries is remarkably shallow, consisting primarily of a series of hyperboles and patronizing direct addresses to the viewer ("look, everyone").

His basic argument is that Rembrandt was a flawed genius - in artistic terms, he pushed the boundaries of artistic convention both in the Netherlands and elsewhere, fighting against the prevailing fashion for 'respectable' art.

On the other hand, he was also a spendthrift, a wastrel, and had a rather colorful personal life - to such an extent that he was reduced to poverty by his life's end. He could still enjoy the patronage of some rich nobles, but in the end he pressed the artistic self-destruct butto