The Storm on the Sea of Galilee

Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?

The Storm on the Sea of Galilee (1633) is Rembrandt’s only seascape and a masterpiece of dramatic light and shadow.

The painting captures the terrifying moment when a sudden storm threatens to capsize the disciples’ boat. While the apostles panic, fighting the waves, vomiting, or praying in despair. Jesus remains calm, bathed in a serene, divine light.

Rembrandt places you in the boat. The vessel tilts toward the viewer, inviting us to hold on. It is a timeless depiction of human frailty and the power of faith in the midst of life’s storms.

The Details

• Artist: Rembrandt van Rijn (1633)
• Title: The Storm on the Sea of Galilee
• Original Location: Stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston (1990)
• Theme: Miracles of Jesus

Rembrandt van Rijn

The Painter of Light and Human Vulnerability Rembrandt van Rijn is widely considered the greatest visual artist in the history of art and the defining figure of the Dutch Golden Age. Born in Leiden, he spent most of his career in Amsterdam, where he revolutionized the way stories—especially sacred ones—were told on canvas. Unlike his contemporaries who sought idealized perfection, Rembrandt sought the "inner life" of his subjects, often using his own face and those of his neighbors to populate his biblical scenes, making the divine feel intimately human and vulnerable.

Rembrandt’s life was one of great triumph and deep personal tragedy, reflections of which are found in the increasing emotional depth of his work. He moved away from the polished finishes of his youth toward a rougher, more expressive technique that captured the texture of skin, fabric, and spirit. His legacy is defined by his unparalleled use of light, which he used not just to illuminate a scene, but to reveal the deepest recesses of the human heart. Today, he remains a titan of art, revered for his ability to turn paint into a visceral experience of mercy, sorrow, and redemption.