Remembering Rembrandt

An image of a self portrait by Rembrandt

Defining Greatness

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Rembrandt was born in Leiden, a town in what was then the Dutch Republic, on July 15th, 1606. He was born into a large, well-to-do and religious family, which could explain his proclivity towards painting biblical scenes. At the age of 14 he began an apprenticeship with historical painter Jacob van Swanenburg which spanned three years. After this he apprenticed with Pieter Lastman and Jacob Pynas, both of which only lasted a few months before he opened his own workshop.

Rembrandt never ventured outside of the Dutch Republic, unlike many of his colleagues who decided to travel Italy while working. Instead he opened a studio in 1624 or 1625, where he would spend the next half decade working alongside fellow painter Jan Lievens, as well as taking apprentices. At the end of 1631 he moved to Amsterdam, where he started working as a professional portrait artist for the first time. These portraits would go on to become some of his most celebrated works of art.

Tragedy Strikes

In 1634 Rembrandt married Saskia van Uylenburgh, and in 1639 they would buy a house in a new prominent neighborhood, which now stands as the Rembrandt House Museum located in present day Jodenbreestraat. The affluent couple would suffer personal tragedy, as their first three children would not survive past infancy. Only their fourth child, Titus, born in 1641, would survive into adulthood. Shortly after the birth of Titus, in 1642, Saskia would die of suspected tuberculosis. The drawings of her on her sick bed are some of his most emotional works.

Rembrandt was known to live well above his means, even as a wealthy artist. His son Titus died before him, in 1668, leaving behind an infant daughter. Shortly after this, within the same year, Rembrandt died on October 4th, 1669 in Amsterdam. He was poor when he died, and was burried in an unknown grave in Westerkerk. As was customary with the remains of the poor, his remains were exumed and destroyed after 20 years of rest, thus extinguishing the final traces of one of history's great artists.

For more information I suggest reading this article: Rembrandt at 400, from The Smithsonian Magazine

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