10 things about the life of Rembrandt

On 15 July 1606, Rembrandt was born in the city of Leiden as the second youngest of ten children. Rembrandt’s family lived across from his father’s mill called De Rijn after the river the Rhine, hence the family name ‘Van Rijn’.

In 1620 Rembrandt’s parents had him registered as a student at Leiden University. However he yearned to draw and to paint. Fortunately his parents went along with their son’s wishes and sent him to a painter as an apprentice.

After two apprenticeships, Rembrandt set up his own studio in Leiden. In the six years since his first dated work of 1625, he had mastered all the tricks of the trade and had evolved his own unique and very successful style.

The booming metropolis was the place to be in the 17th century. Almost as soon as he set foot in Amsterdam, Rembrandt became the new hot ticket in town, and the years 1631 to 1642 would prove to be the most glorious.

On 6 June 1633 Rembrandt got engaged to Saskia, the cousin of his business partner Hendrick Uylenburgh. The inscription on a portrait drawing of Saskia a few days after their engagement read: ‘this is drawn after my wife, when she was 21 years old, the third day of our betrothal'.

After having three children that did not survive infancy, Saskia gave birth to Titus. He was named after his aunt Titia, who had been godparent to all of his deceased siblings. She had died only a few months earlier.

The painting was made for a headquarter of civic guard. It was the crowning achievement and turning point in his career and his praises would soon be sung in Amsterdam, the Dutch Republic and even beyond.

In 1649, the artist was going through a messy breakup with Geertje Dircks, who had been hired as Titus’s nanny. Not satisfied with the financial settlement after their breakup, lengthy legal proceedings followed. Eventually, Geertje was sent to the house of correction in Gouda. Whatever Rembrandt’s part was in this, he went out of his way to keep her there. Geertje dies in 1656, one year after her release.

His lack of productivity after his wife Saskia died began to catch up with him. Bankruptcy was inevitable. However Rembrandt threw himself at his work and created many masterpieces, among them The Jewish Bride.

In 1668 Rembrandt’s son Titus fell ill and died. The last months of his life must have been a sad and lonely period for him. Rembrandt died on 4 October 1669 from unknown causes.