Rembrandt

In 1621 he decided to dedicate himself fully to painting and took lessons from Leiden artist Jacob van Swanenburgh. After a brief but important apprenticeship in Amsterdam, Rembrandt opened a studio in Leiden, which he shared with friend and colleague Jan Lievens. In 1627 Rembrandt began to accept students.

In 1631, Rembrandt had established such a sound reputation that he received several assignments for portraits from Amsterdam. This made him move to that city and move into the house of his art dealer Hendrick van Uylenburgh. In 1634, Rembrandt married Hendrick's wealthy niece Saskia van Uylenburg. A daughter of a patrician, she introduced him in higher social circles, which increased his fame.

In 1639, Rembrandt and Saskia moved to a prominent house in the Jodenbreestraat, in the Jewish quarter (which later has been turned into the Rembrandt House Museum). Three of their children died shortly after birth. In 1641 they had a fourth child, a son, whom they called Titus (1641-1668). Saskia died soon after.

In 1645, Hendrickje Stoffels, (who had initially been Rembrandt's maidservant), moved in with him. In 1654 this brought him an official reproach from the church for 'living in sin'. In that same year the couple had a daughter, Cornelia.

Rembrandt lived above his means, buying lots of art pieces, costumes (often used in his paintings) and rarities, which caused his bankruptcy in 1656. He had to sell his house and move to a more modest accommodation on the Rozengracht. Here his wife Hendrickje and son Titus started an art shop to make ends meet. Rembrandt's fame waned in these years, only be restored in later years.

Rembrandt outlived Hendrickje and Titus. In the end only his daughter Cornelia was at his side. He died October 4, 1669 in Amsterdam in poverty and was buried in an unknown grave in the Westerkerk.

Rembrandt studied with Pieter Lastman for half a year in Amsterdam. Lastman, a painter of biblical, mythological and historical scenes, is considered a major influence. He gave Rembrandt a good sense of composition and made him perceptive of religion and history as sources of inspiration for this work. Lastman had himself studied in Italy, in the early years of the century, and naturally passed his Italian discoveries to Rembrandt.

• Ferdinand Bol (1616-1680)
• Gerard Dou (1613-1675)
• Willem Drost (1630-1680)
• Govert Flinck (1615-1660)
• Carel Fabritius (1622-1654)
• Samuel van Hoogstraten (1627-1678)
• Nicolaes Maes (1643-1693)

• 1632 Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp (Mauritshuis, The Hague)
• 1635 Belshazzar's Feast (National Gallery, London)
• 1636 The Blinding of Samson
• 1636 Danaë (State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg)
• 1653 Sacrifice of Isaac (State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg)
• 1642 The Militia Company of Captain Frans Banning Cocq better known as the Night Watch (Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam)
• ±1643 Christ Healing the Sick also known as The Hundred Guilders Print (Victoria and Albert Museum, London) etching, nicknamed for the huge sum (at that time) paid for it
• 1654 Bathsheba at Her Bath (Louvre, Paris) (Hendrickje is thought to have modeled for this painting)
• 1661 Conspiracy of Julius Civilis (National Museum, Stockholm) (Julius Civilis led a Dutch revolt against the Romans) (most of the cut up painting is lost, only the central part still exists)
• 1662 Syndics of the Drapers' Guild (Dutch De Staalmeesters) (Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam)
• 1664 The Jewish Bride (Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam)
• 1669 Return of the Prodigal Son (State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg)

The piece was commissioned for the new hall of the Kloveniersdoelen, the musketeer branch of the civic militia. Rembrandt departed from convention, which ordered that such genre pieces should be stately and formal, rather a line-up than an action scene. Instead he showed the militia readying themselves to embark on a mission (what kind of mission, an ordinary patrol or some special event is matter of debate). His new approach caused a row, especially among the militia members that ended up at the back of the scene and were hardly visible. Payment was delayed. Even parts of the canvas were cut off to make the painting fit on the designated wall.

This painting now hangs in the largest hall of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. It is a large painting taking up the entire back wall - despite having bits cut off before - and is arguably one of the most impressive paintings displayed there.

As of 2003, the investigation is still in progress.

Today, a Rembrandt painting can sell for more than US$28 million.