Fun Facts: Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn 1606-1669
Rembrandt
Let’s get into our fun facts.
Rembrandt was born in Leiden, South Holland in 1606.
He studied the fundamentals of painting and drawing around 1620 with Jacob Isaacsz van Swanenburgh (1571–1638).
Later in 1624 he also studied in Amsterdam with Pieter Lastman (1583–1633).
Rembrandt became known as a history and portrait painter and was known to convey gesture and expression through dramatic contrasts of light and dark.
He became financially involved with an art dealer, Hendrik van Uylenburgh, and began to operate what was called an “academy,” in 1632.
His academy was essentially an art studio that created portrait commissions and included artists who trained with him such as Jacob Backer, Govaert Flinck, and Ferninand Bol.
Rembrandt became engaged and later married Saskia van Uylenburgh, who was the niece of a wealthy and prominent Frisian family.
He had four children with Saskia, but only one child survived infancy, Titus, who was born in 1641. Saskia, after a long enduring illness, died in 1642, the same year he painted The Night Watch (Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam).
Rembrandt purchased a house, but went into a large amount of debt, which would later figure into some of his financial problems.
Following lawsuits, relationship, and will-related issues, after his wife died, he fell out of favor with many of his patrons and declared bankruptcy. This led to the auctioning of his estate and he lost possession of his large art collection.
He rented a small house and still received commissions during the 1650’s and 1660’s. Stylistically trends had changed from his deeply personal style and he became isolated from the Dutch mainstream art world.
Only one student studied with Rembrandt during the 1660’s, Aert de Gelder (1645–1727).
Rembrandt’s finances remained poor, due to debts owed to art dealers/collectors and his house, and he wasn’t able to remain financially solvent up until his death.
Rembrandt remained a famous artist, but there was little to lighten his worries during his final years.
His son Titus died in 1688 due to an epidemic in Amsterdam.
Rembrandt died in 1669 and was buried in a rented grave, which has long since disappeared.
Source: National Gallery of Art
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Rembrandt
Rembrandt
Rembrandt, Saskia van Uylenburgh, the Wife of the Artist