Esther M. Zimmer Lederberg
Rhetoric of Familiarity

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Rembrandt Jan Cornelis Sylvius, preacher
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The silent rhetoric, or rhetoric tacens of art, may include commonly encountered rheorical symbols, but symbols may be "silent"!

In this painting by Rembrandt, the preacher Jan Cornelis Sylvius is seen very persuasively, literally reaching out of the painting. This is another example of an Alberti "witness".

It was very common to symbolize "rhetoric" with the open hand. Preachers commonly used rhetoric in their sermons. "Science" (logic) was viewed as being in opposition to rhetoric, and logic was commonly symbolized with the clenched fist. The intentions of Rembrandt are quite eloquent, but "silent"!

Note: Jan Cornelius Sylvius married Alida van Uylenburgh, the cousin of Rembrandt's wife Saskia van Uylenburgh.

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