Rembrandt

Rembrandt, whose full name was Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, was the son of a miller. The artisan family had great hopes for their son, and paid for him togo and study at the Univerity of Leiden.

However Rembrandt disappointed them when he left to pursue his artistic ambitions. He travelled to Amsterdam to study art with Pieter Lastman, anartist well-know for his finely detailed historical scenes.

After a bried spell back in Lieden, where Rembrandt himself taught art, he returned to Amstermdam to live there permanently.

He met and married Saskia van Uylenburgh, the relation of a well-connected art dealer. Together, they had 4 children. Though the first 3 died young, only the youngest Titus surviving childhood.

Rembrandt's skill was well known, and he received manny commissions from wealthy patrons. Many of the commisions were portraits, such as the fine Portrait of Nicolaes Ruts, or historical scenes, an example being The Blinding of Samson. Rembrandt also loved to paint himself - over 60 self-portraits are known to exist.

Age the age of 30 Rembrandt's wife died. After some years, Hendrickje Stoffels, his housekeeper, became his wife.

Some of Rembrandt's greatest works come from the last part of his life. A beautifulexample from 1661 is The Syndics of the Cloth Guild .

In 1663 his beloved died, then 5 years later Titus, aged only 27. Rembrandt died just 11 months later.

Rembrandt's legacy was 600 paintings, 300 etchings, and 1,400 drawings.