The Compassionate Eye: The Gentle Art of Rembrandt van Rijn
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Lecturer, Barbara J Johnston Ph.D.
Monday, July 13th
4 pm - 5 pm
Online with Zoom
His name is synonymous with artistic greatness. Rembrandt van Rijn's paintings have captivated the world for centuries, but what, exactly, is it that has endeared these works to us? His rich colors and glowing light are certainly beautiful but what really sets Rembrandt apart from his contemporaries is his compassion. His works often capture both the beauty and heartache of the human condition with great sympathy, and he helps the viewer to relate to his subjects through the mirror of our own lives.This lecture will examine the works of the great Dutch master to reveal the compassion and talent behind the genius of Rembrandt van Rijn.
Dr. Barbara J. Johnston is a native of North Miami, Florida, but spent most of her adult life in the Richmond, Virginia area. She earned two undergraduate degrees in Studio Art and Art History, and a Masters degree in Art History and Museum Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she was also an adjunct Art History professor. In addition, Barbara was on the faculty of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts for over ten years, offering classes and public lectures on a variety of art historical topics as the Paul Mellon Arts in Education lecturer. After earning her doctorate degree in Art History at Florida State University, Barbara was a Visiting Professor of Renaissance and Baroque Art History at the College of William and Mary before moving to Columbus, Georgia in 2008 to join the Art History faculty at Columbus State University, where she is a tenured Associate Professor. Barbara specializes in Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque art, although she gives public lectures on a wide variety of topics, including Modernist Art, Non-Western Art and Architecture, and the focus of her personal scholarship, Mary Magdalene in the visual arts.