Saskia as Flora is an oil painting on canvas created by Rembrandt van Rijin in 1634, portraying his beloved wife, Saskia van Uylenburgh as the goddess Flora. It was painted by Rembrandt at the age of 28, a year after his marriage. It is now in the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg.
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijin was a Dutch painter and etcher, considered as one of the greatest painter and printmakers in Dutch history and in European art. Rembrandt achieved great success in youth as a portrait painter. In 1631, he moved to Amsterdam and began to practice as a professional portraitist. There he stayed in an art dealer’s house, Hendrick van Uylenburgh, and met Hendrick’s cousin, Saskia van Uylenburgh. Saskia was from a good family, and her father used to be the mayor of Wadden. She was a typical Dutch girl, with clear skin, brown hair, dark-green eyes and adorable appearance. Rembrandt was fascinated with Saskia at first sight, and Saskia also developed interests in Rembrandt. Both of them fell in love quickly. Only several mothers later, the 27-year-old Rembrandt and the 21-year-old Saskia were married.
A year after their marriage, Rembrandt portrayed his brand-new bride Saskia, modeling for Flora, the Roman goddess of flower, fertility and the season of spring. Here in the painting, Saskia is crowned with flowers and dressed in an elegant gown. Saskia puts her left hand on her belly, and holds a stick entwined with flowers by her right hands. Rembrandit went through a rather hard time in his later years, but the time when Rembrandit painted the portrait maybe his happiest time, because he found and married his goddess, Saskia. He drew out the most beautiful moment and passed down forever. The portrait painting is permeated with happiness and felicity of new marriage.
Saskia As Flora 1634 Oil On Canvas 1634
