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Synchronized Chaos Magazine approached me in regards to reviewing Windhams Rembrandt, a memoir by the cellist Jonathan Humphries. It was not a personal experience of Jonathan’s, but rather a personal experience of his father’s, James Humphries. The book was written as a collaborated effort of both James and Jonathan Humphries. Sadly, it is a father’s legacy, as it was drafted when James Humphries was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Eleven years later, Windhams Rembrandt was edited and published through a Kickstarter donation program.

I was quite thrilled to have the opportunity to review this book as I have always had an interest in anything to do with the penal system. The life of the inmate, the crimes, the victims and their families, the prisons, and the people that defended them.

Here is an blurp about Windhams Rembrandt from the pages of Amazon;

When Jim Humphries was called on to teach art behind Texas prison walls in 1972, he was just another struggling artist. He never thought of the impact his art class would have on the the inmates or the mentally disturbed patients housed by the Texas Department of Corrections. Maybe it was because Jim was the first art teacher in Texas to teach the federally incarcerated, a role that soon had him pioneering the first art therapy program behind bars. Or maybe it was the right time in America to try another, more rehabilitative approach to the treatment of convicted felons. The reasons may be numerous, as are the stories he wrote, based on the actual life events that involved Jim, his colleagues, and his students. This book tells their stories, and reveals the effect a little artistic expression had on the lives of the many inmates fortunate enough to have learned from Jim.

I have to admit that I took a glimpse at the website before actually opening the book. The Windhams Rembrandt website is well-worth looking at. Here you will learn about the book, the author, a son’s promise, an excerpt, and the artwork. Every picture tells a story and the artwork done by the prisoners is fascinating. Kudos to James Humphries for teaching his talent to those in the penal system and also to those on the outside world. And kudos to Jonathan Humphries for remembering a promise.

Now onto the review of Windhams Rembrandt. The book is an easy read and is divided into sections that highlight each of the prisoners story and how they incorporated the teachings of art instructor and teacher James Humpries into their lives. The art instruction taught by James Humpries improved their rehabilitation outcome immensely. Prior to the art instruction being taught in the federal prison of Texas, there was no way to rate the amount of education the prisoners had, therefore, rehabilitation efforts seemed pointless.

James Humpries, scholar, teacher, and humanitarian, worked with Texas prisoners for 12 years, helping them to find comfort and peace and a means to express themselves through their art work.

I wish to thank Synchronized Chaos Magazine for the opportunity of reviewing Windhams Rembrandt, James Humpries and Jonathan Humpries, for putting the memoir on paper, and, of course, to Jonathan Humpries for keeping a promise. I highly recommend that you take the time and read Windham’s Rembrandt.

You can purchase your own copy of Windham’s Rembrandt by clicking the image below

Or enter below to try to win your very own copy~

Winner- Jorie W.

*Disclaimer*- I received the above mentioned book for review purposes. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. This post may also contain affiliate links.