‘The Storm on the Sea of Galilee’ (1633) oil on canvas (160 cm × 128 cm) is the painting by the Dutch artist, Rembrandt Van Rijin, who is often considered the greatest painter of Holland’s ‘Golden Age’. He is credited with producing 300-600 paintings, 400 etchings and 2,000 drawings; however, only 75 of these works have authenticated signatures. This painting is his only painted seascape.

When Rembrandt came to Amsterdam to begin his career, he painted what many consider his most dramatic work. He chose a story from the Bible depicting an intense and violent storm that terrified the disciples of Christ as the small boat on which they are sailing is about to be engulfed in a whirlwind. The painting also illustrates the contrasting power of nature against the frailty of humanity.

It was on display at the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum, Boston when it was stolen in 1990 and has never been recovered. — M.I.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, November 22nd, 2014