Concealed beneath the paint layers of Pieter Lastman’s work
Before Rembrandt created his masterpieces, he learned his craft from Pieter Lastman. The new RKD Study Lastman in Focus by RKD curator Margreet Wolters offers, for the first time, a detailed insight into how Pieter Lastman structured his compositions and how his ideas evolved during the painting process—sometimes undergoing radical transformations.
Revealed through infrared technology
Pieter Lastman was known for his narrative paintings full of detail and drama. But what was his method for setting up a composition? In the RKD Study, the artist’s working method is examined in remarkable detail using infrared reflectography (IRR), a technique that reveals the initial sketch beneath the paint layers. This offers a rare glimpse behind the scenes, from the first drawn lines to the final brushstroke.
A changing hand
The research reveals a clear development in his approach. Whereas Lastman worked with meticulous chalk sketches in his early years, he later switched to a freer and more direct method of preparation. He did not shy away from radical changes: while painting, he adjusted compositions, reinforced narrative details and sometimes even gave scenes a whole new meaning.
Complete picture
The digital publication leads the reader through these findings, presenting a chronological overview of Lastman’s work. The first part outlines the broad lines of his development and briefly compares it with the work of contemporaries such as Jan Lievens and Rembrandt. The second part zooms in on individual paintings, tracing the traces of his hand step by step. An addendum on special materials and panels, plus two appendices, complete the picture.
The research was able to commence in 2021 thanks to a Museum Grant from NWO. Led by our curator Margreet Wolters, museums from Dublin to Budapest and from San Francisco to Jerusalem participated. A total of 45 paintings by Lastman were examined at some twenty locations, yielding a wealth of new material. For Wolters, who is retiring on 7 August, this publication marks a special and festive farewell to the RKD. And for readers, it is a unique opportunity to follow Pieter Lastman's creative hand step by step.
Lastman in focus. Onderzoek naar ondertekening en werkwijze bij Pieter Lastman, leermeester van Rembrandt can be found on the RKD Studies website.
RKD Studies (links to external website)
Read the RKD Study and discover Lastman's creative process.