Rembrandt

Rembrandt is indisputably the greatest artist of the 17th century, and many would say the greatest artist of all time. His mastery of composition, paint, and line - he was a superlative etcher - over a lifetime's work has rarely been emulated, let alone surpassed.

At a time when other artists specialised, his themes covered history, pastoral and Biblical scenes, group paintings, and most celebrated of all, portraits.