Rembrandt van Rijn is commonly regarded as one of the greatest painters and etchers in European art and the most important in Dutch art history. Among the more famous characteristics of his paintings are his use of chiaroscuro, the theatrical employment of light and shadow derived from Caravaggio, but adapted for very personal means. His wife Saskia, his son Titus and his common-law wife Hendrickje often figured significantly in his paintings, many of which had mythical, biblical or historical themes. In his work he exhibited knowledge of classical iconography, which he menaged to fit the requirements of his own experience. Because of his understanding for the human being, he has been called "one of the great prophets of civilization.