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Who Was Rembrandt?
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Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn was one of the greatest artists in the
world. Born in a miller's family in 1606, in the town of Leyden,
Holland, Rembrandt created three hundred etchings, more than two
thousand drawings and over six hundred paintings, many of which are
priceless masterpieces.
After being sent to a university at the age of fourteen, Rembrandt
decided that he would be a painter. He used to practice at home,
working on canvases, using his brother and sister as models. Later
he was sent to Amsterdam to train under Pieter Lastman, a gifted
artist, who had traveled to Italy and was influenced by Tintoretto.
Lastman himself influenced Rembrandt, in his early work.
In 1625, Rembrandt returned to Leyden as a young man to make a
career there and was so successful that he was encouraged to return
to Amsterdam again and permanently settled down there. |
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A Self Portrait by Rembrandt
In 1933, Rembrandt married Saskia van Uijlenburgh, the daughter of
an art dealer. Saskia appeared in numerous etchings and paintings
during their happy years together. It was also during this time that
Rembrandt became well known in wealthy Amsterdam circles and
appeared to be headed for a well settled, prosperous life. His
uncomplicated style, making imaginative use of light and shadows,
and subtle overtones found many admirers for his work. It was his
deep understanding of people that brought a rare honesty to his
work.
Rembrandt's pet subjects included religious themes, and also the
self portraits he painted throughout his life. Since he let little
or no written information about himself, his self-portraits throw
valuable light on the changing fortunes in his life.
Life did not continue successfully for Rembrandt, with the
completion of his best-known work, the "Night Watch", Rembrandt's
fame declined. His wife died, his painting was severely criticized
and he was close to bankruptcy. Throughout this turmoil, Rembrandt
continued as an artist, and his work produced during this time,
including the famous self portrait, was a reflection of the changes
in his life.
Rembrandt did in fact go bankrupt in 1656, and spent the last decade
of his life in poverty. However he continued painting till his death
in 1669. Some of his best works were completed in the final years of
his life. Today's Rembrandt's work is displayed in the finest
museums and art galleries throughout the world. |
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