Rembrandt

Rembrandt van Rijn was born in Leiden

Rembrandt van Rijn was born in Leiden in 1606. He was the son of the miller Herman Gerritsz. Van Rijn and the baker's daughter Neeltgen van Zuytbrouck. Rembrandt is generally regarded as the best Dutch painter of the 17th century.

Characteristic style

Rembrandt started with painting lessons in 1620. He attended the classes of the Academy of Leiden for one year. After this year he proceeded his training with the masters Jacob van Swanenburg and Pieter Lastman. From 1625 he shared a studio with Jan Lievens.
In 1631 Rembrandt left Leiden and went to Amsterdam. In this city he quickly became famous and generally respected. Rembrandt painted in a characteristic style and his paintings were distinguished from the work of his colleagues.

Life and work

His work was especially respected for the way Rembrandt applied the light in his paintings. He used the light to direct the spectator to the main event of the painting.
In 1633 Rembrandt married Saskia Uylenburg and he bought a big house in 1639. From the four children that were born out of this marriage only son Titus (1641-1668) stayed alive. After the death of his wife Saskia Rembrandt went through a financially difficult time and things in his personal live did not go well either. In 1649 he was prosecuted by Geertgen Dircx because Rembrandt was believed not to fulfil his promise to marry her.
About 1645 Hendrickje Stoffels moved in and a daughter, Cornelia, was born.

Important orders

Finally in 1656 his house and other personal belongings were sold to pay debts. Two years later his son Titus and Hendrickje started a foundation in which Rembrandt did his work as a painter. In this way he was able to work as an artist without be incommoded by old debtors.
Rembrandt did not die as a poor man. After his bankruptcy he obtained some very important orders and as a side line he earned some money with art dealing.

Influenced many contemporary and later artists

On 9 October 1669 Rembrandt was buried in the Westerkerk (church) in Amsterdam.
His many paintings, drawings and etches have influenced many contemporary and later artists.

More information

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