L'Atelier de Rembrandt, tableau de J. Gilbert (Rembrandt's Studio, a painting by J. Gilbert), from "L'Univers Illustré," p. 395 1861

This is a reproduction from L'Univers Illustré, depicting Rembrandt's studio, made by William Luson Thomas in the 19th century. The image offers us a glimpse into the romanticised world of artistic creation. Here we see not just an artist at work but a social scene, with patrons, students and models filling the space. The setting is intended to evoke the Dutch Golden Age, and this kind of historicising was popular in the 19th century, a period marked by the rise of the modern art market and the establishment of art history as an academic discipline. The image plays with ideas of genius, patronage, and artistic community, reflecting the social conditions that shaped artistic production at the time. To fully appreciate this image, we can turn to sources from the period, such as exhibition reviews, biographies of artists, and social histories, revealing the complex interplay between art, commerce, and cultural values.