Rembrandt's Model Author:Yeshim Ternar Ternar draws upon the turbulent history of Sephardic Jews in 17th century Amsterdam, the artistic preoccupations of the elderly Rembrandt, and the controversial convictions of the false messiah, Sabbatai Sevi of Smyrna to create an entrancing tale. The central character of the novel, Samuel, is the man with his back to the viewer at the centre o... more »f a Rembrandt etching which depicts a group of Jewish men conversing in front of a synagogue. Ternar gives this man a face and a life history. Rembrandt's Model challenges the prevalent assumptions about Ottoman and Western European cultures, and imaginatively suggests how the Wandering Jew-whether travelling in real life, in an etching, or in a dream-was crucial to the spiritual identity of both cultures. The mystery and wonder of Ternar's novel envelops us as we travel over time and place with Samuel-spanning the centuries to the present day, from Spain, to Amsterdam, and then to Istanbul.« less