Discusses Rembrandt's life, technique, the organization of his workshop and the history of critical response to him. It also presents studies of 51 paintings definitely attributed to Rembrandt and discusses the work of his pupils.

Together with "Rembrandt: The Master and his Workshop (Drawings and Etchings)", this book serves as the catalogue for a major exhibition of Rembrandt's paintings, drawings, and etchings opening at the Altes Museum in Berlin and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam in 1991. Paintings and etchings from this exhibition will later be on display at the National Gallery in London; the drawings will be shown at the British Museum. In this volume on the paintings, prominent experts discuss Rembrandt's life, his technique, the organization of his workshop, and the history of critical response to him. The authors then present detailed studies of 51 paintings definately attributed to Rembrandt, from his earliest biblical subjects to the last self-portrait. The final section of the book discusses the work of Rembrandt's pupils, including Ferdinand Bol, Gerrit Dou, and Nicolaes Maes. Paintings once assumed to be by Rembrandt are attributed to these pupils and are related to other works they have done.

Essays - Rembrant's method, Ernst van de Wetering
Rembrandt and his time, A. Th. van Deursen
the documentary evidence, Sebastian Dudok van Heel
Rembrandt's technique, Ernst van de Wetering
critical responses to Rembrandt, J. Boomgard and R. W. Scheller
the catalogue.