Country Life
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December 21, 2020 Bathsheba at her Bath, 1654, 56in by 56in, by Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–69), The Louvre, Paris. Credit: Alamy
Sister Teresa Keswick on Bathsheba at her Bath by Rembrandt
‘This is the finest portrayal of sadness that I know. We are shown a Bathsheba who has hindsight and, therefore, knows the consequence of David’s terrible command. It is a command and not a request; she is not at liberty to refuse it.
‘But there is a second and far greater meaning to this picture and that is the affection with which Rembrandt has painted Hendrickje Stoffels. There can be few greater privileges for any woman than to be seen and then revealed by a genius who loves her, with a love that is a reflection of divine love.’