Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn

Rembrandt is considered one of the great masters of art. He was

born in Leydon, Holland on July 15th, 1606. His parents, though
not rich were comfortable. His father was a miller and his mother
was the daughter of a baker. Two occupations that allowed them
to be the reputable trading middle class of that historical period.
At the age of fourteen Rembrandt was taking his studies at the
Latin School in Leydon, but it was evident he was more intent in
being a painter rather than a scholar. His parents finally gave in
to his effective arguments and apprenticed him to the painter
Jacob van Swannenburgh. This association lasted three years
which was enough to give Rembrandt the education he needed to
for the basis of his life work. Rembrandt's next period was with
Pieter Lastman in Amsterdam.
With Lastman Rembrandt came under the influence of Adam Elsheimer. Elsheimer was a
chiaroscurist. These two painters are important figures in Rembrandt's life as was Caravaggio and
need to be mentioned to understand his life as an artist.
Caravaggio was one of the more influential painters of the later Renaissance period of Italy.
Caravaggio felt that Italy's passion for art was failing. It seemed a dryness had invaded the arts and
that a rigid structure had taken hold on the Italian consciousness. Indeed, even the Madonna was
wearing the same clothing as the pagan Venus. Caravaggio wanted more realism in his paintings.
For this reason he chose the citizenry of Italy as his subjects. He gave his paintings more texture
and movement and most importantly, he added light to his paintings. Different shades showed
paintings differently. This one aspect alone added more reality to paintings and had a lasting
impression on late 17th century art.
The effect on Caravaggio and other chiaroscurists on Lastman and Elsheimer are seen through
Rembrandt. After his apprenticeship with Lastman, Rembrandt returned to Leydon and began to
establish himself as a painter. His paintings and reputation grew and he was called upon for many
portraits.
Many of the commissions he received came from Amsterdam and in late 1631 he felt it best to
move to this city which was becoming rich on the cloth trade. At first he lived with a man named
Hendrijke van Uhlenburgh. It was at this place in 1634 that Rembrandt met Saskia, whom he fell
in love with and married. She would also be the subject of many of his paintings. This was the start
of the period that would highlight his greatest success, popularity and happiness. In 1632 the
Amsterdam Surgeons commissioned him to paint an anatomy lesson with one of the leading
surgeons of the day, Dr. Tulp. Paintings of anatomy lessons of that time were common, but
Rembrandt's painting, using the influence of his teachers, and the grouping of Dr. Tulp's students
hardly looked like the standard lesson of the day. (The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Tulp)

He was also getting commissions from other places as well. His success was assured when the
Staatholder (Leader of the State of Holland) Frederick Henry asked him to do a large series of
paintings. It was during this time that he started doing landscapes. Most of these are scenes of
mills, bridges, waterfalls and ruins as well as greenery and figures. The use of light on his subjects
is always apparent.
In 1642, Rembrandt completed The
Night Watch. This was commissioned by
the Civic Guard of Amsterdam and is
probably his best-known painting. It was
to be a painting of the guards marching
under the command of their captain,
Frans Banning Cocq. The picture,
although popular among critics and well
paid for, was not what the guards
expected.

Night Watch

Rather than the men seen under the

command of Cocq, they are seen, as
their poses suggest, as contemporaries.
Worse still, few of the guards are hardly
recognizable as they are painted into the
darkness of the canvas. In fact, one

figure even looks clownish.

Although the painting would pay Rembrandt handsomely, it also happened in the year that saw a
change in Rembrandt's fortunes.
In 1642 his beloved Saskia died, leaving him with their one year old son, Titus. Titus's first
nursemaid, Geertghe Dirck , who was also claimed to be Rembrandt's mistress, left the household,
eventually being sent to an insane asylum. Rembrandt brought in Hendrickje Stoffels to care for
Titus. Eventually, she too became Rembrandt's mistress.
The arrangements caused a small scandal in Calvinist Holland. For a time Stoffels was even
banned from her church. As well, due to Rembrandt's poor money management and the declining
commissions, due in part of the Civic Guard painting led to an inability to meet financial
obligations. In 1556, Rembrandt declared bankruptcy. His paintings and house were sold at
auction. Because Holland was at war with Portugal at the time and in danger of being at war with
Spain as well, the auction brought in much less than it normally would have.
This brought about an unusual situation. Rembrandt would sign a contract with his son and
mistress to help protect his interests. From then on his monetary affairs were largely in their hands.
Titus and Hendrickje became art dealers and made Rembrandt their manager, an honorary title. He
was mostly interested in his work.
Rembrandt kept on painting despite the lack of commissions and becoming more isolated. The last
years of his life brought about some of his greatest achievements. He painted his patron Jan Six in
1654, the same year as The Homer. He also did a painting of Alexander the Great, Man in Armour,
and Aristotle with a Bust of Homer. He also was commissioned to decorated the Amsterdam Town

Hall with a painting but it was never finished. It was returned to him for refinishing which he never
made. This was the painting Conspiracy of Julius Civilis.
As well The Bridal Couple and The Syndics of the Clothworkers Guild, St. Peter Denying Christ
and The Slaughter House.
Rembrandt died on October 4th, 1669, having been predeceased by Titus and Hendrickje. Only a
daughter, Cornelia, by Hendrickje survived him. In his studio was the unfinished work, Simeon in
the Temple.
Many would say this was an ordinary life of an extraordinary man. He never left his native
Holland, even for Italy, a Mecca for painters of that time.
He lived during changing times of European society. That may have done as much for his notoriety
as his skill as a painter.

"The Anatomy Lecture of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp" - Rembrandt

REMBRANDT
CROSSWORD CLUES

Across
2. Rembrandt did this in 1669.
3. His most famous piece.
6. Holland was at war with this country.
8. After his love scandals and the Night Watch, he declared this.
11. Was commissioned to paint these by the Amsterdam Surgeons
12. "The use of ___ on his subjects is always apparent."
13. Used this type of painting medium.

Down
1. An artist who had tremendous influence on Rembrandt.
2. "The Anatomy Lecture of __ __ __"
4. Holland is a region in this modern country and is mistakenly synonymous with it in the English
language.
5. Was this in 1606.
7. Son's name
9. Hails from this city.
10. Rembrandt could be called this type of painter due to the use of light.

REMBRANDT
CROSSWORD PUZZLE