The Dutch artist Rembrandt von Rijn was not only a contemporary of Menasseh (1606-1669) but his neighbor, living on the same street in Amsterdam from 1632 . Rembrandt shared Menasseh’s passion for the Bible, as evinced by his many biblical illustrations. Perhaps as a result of his residence in the Jewish Quarter of the city, many of his portraits appear to show the features of Jews, one picture even depicting a group outside a Synagogue.

Dr. E. Bueno, who features in many of Rembrandt’s paintings, is mentioned by Menasseh as a mutual friend. Rembrandt illustrated Menasseh’s commentary on the book of Daniel, Piedra Gloriosa (“The Glorious Stone”, named for the stone which presages the Messianic kingdom at the climax of Nevuchadnezzar’s dream) with etchings of Nevuchadnezzar’s dream, the vision of Ezekiel, Jacob’s dream and the struggle of David and Goliath. A famous etching of Menasseh dated 1636 was long thought to be a preliminary sketch for a portrait hanging in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, although that portrait is now not generally thought to portray Menasseh.

Dr. Bryna J. Levy writes on her website, “Scripture Envisioned:”