Amsterdam pays tribute to Rembrandt

WHAT: "Rembrandt-Caravaggio" at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam

WHEN: Feb. 24-June 18

HOW MUCH: $24

WHY GO: This year marks the 400th birthday of Rembrandt van Rijn, and the Van Gogh Museum joins in on the yearlong celebration with "Rembrandt-Caravaggio." The collection of more than 25 paintings juxtaposes the works of these two masters who defined the art of the dramatic lighting technique known as chiaroscuro.

The comparison between the two baroque artists seems unlikely: Caravaggio, who died four years after Rembrandt's birth, painted mainly for the Catholic Church and aristocrats, while Rembrandt worked in a Protestant environment for the wealthy middle class. Their revolutionary use of light and shade to create powerful portraits links these two artists.

Culled from museums around the world, the exhibit marks the first time the works of these two painters have been shown together, and it's the first time since 1952 that Caravaggio's art has been displayed in the Netherlands.

DON'T MISS: Caravaggio and Rembrandt's versions of "Denial of St. Peter," which depicts the frightened apostle telling a guard he's not a follower of Jesus so he can save his life. Caravaggio's 1610 painting sets the figures in mysterious light amid the dark setting, while Rembrandt's painting — completed 50 years later — is clearly influenced by Caravaggio (albeit with heavier brushstrokes).

Rembrandt's "The Sacrifice of Abraham" (1635), showing an angel violently stopping Abraham from sacrificing his son to God, is reminiscent of Caravaggio's take on the subject. Caravaggio's seductive "Omnia vincit Amor" (1601-02) shows the winged god of love trampling on symbols of human endeavors, such as music, war and government.

EXTRAS: The list is long for Rembrandt-related events happening in the Netherlands this year (visit www.rembrandt-

400.nl for a complete list). Highlights include a separate exhibit of 25 paintings, letters and drawings at the Van Gogh Museum comparing the works of Van Gogh and Rembrandt running Feb. 24 -June 18. They couldn't be further apart visually, but van Gogh painted portraits that expressed the soul of his subject in much the same way as Rembrandt.