Can't find the painting that you are looking for? No problem! We can paint any painting in any size, even if it's not listed on our website. Simply make a request and we will get back to you with a quote within a few hours.
Optional - receive your painting ready to hang. Note we are only able to ship framed paintings up to a certain size. Once the maximum size is reached, the framing option is automatically disabled. If ordered without a frame the painting will arrive rolled inside a protective tube with an extra 1.5" white canvas on all sides so you can easily frame it in any local frame shop.
Philosopher in Meditation painted in 1632, and commonly attributed to Rembrandt, is one of the dominant pieces of the collection of the Musée du Louvre, Paris. Signed "RHL-van Rijn", an unusual signature in the artist's chronology, many have questioned the attribution of the painting to the Dutch master. But Philosopher in Meditation, as it is commonly titled, is no imitation or reproduction. Coinciding with Rembrandt's move from Leiden to Amsterdam in 1632, this canvas, imbued with the beautifully rendered chiaroscuro technique popularized by Caravaggio, is an intricate, obscure, and mysterious work. Scholars have recently argued against the claim that the painting deals with a Philosopher meditating over his work — primarily because of the lack of iconographic elements usually associated with philosophical, alchemic or scholarly pursuits. This considered, the work is immensely popular and is often a pictorial representation of the aforementioned crafts. Instead, many have argued that the painting may depict the Biblical story of Tobit and Anna waiting for their son Tobias.
Philosopher in Meditation is an imagined reproduction of two figures surrounded by a wooden spiral staircase in a vaulted room, the varied architecture of the interior giving a vivid impression of endurance and monumentality. Unfortunately, as with many paintings of its age, the aging of the varnish has gradually darkened the canvas, rendering almost invisible a third figure leaden with a basket and turned to face the viewer. The Book of Tobit (or Tobias) was one of Rembrandt's most beloved Old Testament sources, and it is more likely that the layout and balance between the figures represents and unifies the blindness of both Tobit and his wife Anna. Another version of the elderly couple waiting for their son Tobia had already been painted by Rembrandt in 1630, allowing for a continuity of theme. Yet, regardless of theme or painter, this imagined reproduction has captivated the minds of leading modernist writers of the twentieth century, become an avatar for philosophical thought, and continues to attract interpretations to this day.
Real Oil Paints, Real Brushes, Real Artists, Real Art. The Certificate of Authenticity which arrives with every painting provides an assurance and verifies the authenticity of the hand painted fine art reproduction you purchased. Each oil painting is created by hand using only the finest canvas and oil paints available.
Important Notes About Your Painting:
If you have any request to alter your reproduction of Philosopher in Meditation 1632,
you must email us after placing your order and we'll have an artist contact you.
If you have another image of Philosopher in Meditation 1632
that you would like the artist to work from, please include it as an attachment. Otherwise, we will reproduce the above image for you exactly as it is.
Free shipping is included in the price of the painting. Once the painting is ready and dry enough to ship, we will roll it and ship it in a sturdy cardboard tube.
We always ship express via courier to ensure your order reaches you as soon as possible - normally within three business days. The total delivery time from the moment you place your order until the package is delivered to your door is normally between three to four weeks.
If, in the unlikely event you were dissatisfied with the painting after reviewing it in person, it can be returned for a full refund for up to 365 days after delivery.
When you receive the painting; you are free to return it for more revisions or else for a full refund minus our actual shipping cost -- which is, on average, $25 per painting.
1st Art Gallery provides a full warranty covering manufacturing and material defects for paintings purchased from our website. The warranty covers damage for normal use. Damage caused by incidents such as accidents or inappropriate use are not covered.
Depending on the degree of damage to the warranted painting, it will either be repaired or replaced. This warranty service is provided free of charge.
When purchasing a painting on its own, it will arrive rolled inside a secure tube with an extra 1.5" of white canvas on all sides so you can easily frame it in any local frame shop.
You may choose to purchase your painting framed, in which case, it will arrive "ready to hang". We offer more than 20 beautiful models, all hand finished and expertly assembled by our experienced framers.
Note that for safety reasons we can only frame up to a certain size. Once the maximum size is reached the framing option is automatically disabled.
If you are planning to frame your painting yourself,
use an existing frame, or frame it locally, you may choose to order your painting with a stretching service,
meaning that it will arrive mounted on wooden bars.
If you're considering not framing your painting at all, you may opt for a Gallery Wrap. The term Gallery Wrap refers to the way the canvas is stretched, which is by wrapping it around thick stretcher bars, about 1.5 inch thick, with the canvas being secured to the back rather than the sides of those bars.
All orders ship with UPS, FedEx or DHL and will arrive directly to your home or office. A tracking number will be emailed to you as soon as the order leaves our studio so you can track it online. All orders ship express and usually arrive within 4-5 days from the shipping date. Due to shipping restraints, many of our framed, stretched, and oversize paintings may take 6-21 days for arrival depending on the safest route determined by the postal service.