A Man seated reading at a Table in a Lofty Room
- Artist: Rembrandt
- Date: about 1628-30
- Medium: oil on wood
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is the "A Man seated reading at a Table in a Lofty Room" painted by Rembrandt. Brilliant sunlight floods through the gloom onto the wall of the room, creating a dramatic tension between light and dark. The artist has used thick white paint and grey detailing to capture the refraction and reflection of light by the window glass.
As we look at this painting, it's easy to see why it was once believed to be an important early work by Rembrandt. However, recent analysis suggests that it may have been painted by a contemporary artist who was familiar with Rembrandt's style and subject matter. The image of a melancholic scholar lost in thought is consistent with Rembrandt's early work, but the method used to join the boards on which this painting is made is not documented before in any other Rembrandt works.
The style and subject matter are certainly reminiscent of Rembrandt's time period, around 1628-30. The painting is done in oil on wood, a medium that was commonly used by artists during this time. Despite the controversy surrounding its attribution, "A Man seated reading at a Table in a Lofty Room" remains a powerful and evocative work of art.
See it in person
A Man seated reading at a Table in a Lofty Room hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
