Interesting facts about Rembrandt's painting "The Night Watch. Rembrandt - everything you need to know about the famous Dutch artist Interesting facts from the life of Rembrandt

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, the great Dutch painter and etcher.

Born in Leiden to a miller's family. The father's affairs during this period were going well, and he was able to give his son a better education than other children. Rembrandt entered the Latin school. He studied poorly and wanted to paint. Nevertheless, he finished school and entered Leiden University. A year later, he began taking painting lessons. His first teacher was J. van Swanenburg. After staying in his studio for more than three years, Rembrandt went to Amsterdam to the historical painter P. Lastman. He had a strong influence on Rembrandt and taught him the art of engraving. Six months later (1623) Rembrandt returned to Leiden and opened his own workshop.

Holland in early XVII century, freed from Spanish rule, experienced a social upsurge. Here, under the republican form of government, there was relative freedom of views. Dutch art of that time was imbued with democratic tendencies, most fully expressed in domestic genre. In this atmosphere, the artist's work became unusually relevant. By 1628, Rembrandt was already an established artist and had students. He created many paintings: these are portraits of the family, and commissioned works, and scenes from the biblical story - “David and Saul” (c. 1630), “Caesar's Denarius” (1629).

At the end of 1631 Rembrandt moved to Amsterdam. Surprisingly quickly gained popularity, received numerous orders for portraits. He continued to improve by drawing from life and engraving interesting types. At this time of his life, he wrote The Anatomy Lesson (1632. The Hague).

In business matters, Rembrandt was assisted by the art dealer Hendrick van Uylenburgh, whose niece the artist married in 1634. Among the paintings of this period, the famous Danae (1636) stands out. By the end of the 1630s, landscape works of the artist belong.

The decade from 1632 to 1642 is, in the full sense of the word, a happy period in Rembrandt's life. The young master is accompanied by fame and fortune. He is overwhelmed with orders, students flock to the workshop. Rembrandt's personal life also develops very happily thanks to his marriage to a wealthy orphan, the daughter of the recently deceased burgomaster of Leuwarden, Saskia van Uylenburgh. Prosperity and joy enter the house with the young wife. The joyful mood that dominates the artist finds its expression in a number of his paintings, especially in "Self-portrait with Saskia" (Dresden, Art Gallery). Holding his young wife on his knees, the artist, as it were, addresses the audience, inviting them to take part in his joy. Brilliantly executed portraits, elegant costumes and roundabouts emphasize the festive character of the scene. Other portraits of Saskia, in which the artist does not get tired of repeating the facial features of his young wife, dressing her in rich fantastic clothes or presenting her as a goddess of flowers (see "Flora"), testify to the unbridled thirst for beauty and happiness that possessed him in those years. Of particular interest to external characteristic The image is also reflected in the manner of performance. With great attention and care, the artist writes rich fabrics, magnificent clothes and jewelry that adorn a young woman. Luxury environment, which serves as a rich frame for her pretty face, is conveyed with the use of all the richness of the colors of the palette, characteristic of early things.

The same desire for splendor and brilliance is manifested in many of the artist's self-portraits. Rembrandt now often portrays himself in smart clothes and, somewhat ennobling facial features, gives his appearance a certain representativeness.

Imitating the representatives of a respectable society, Rembrandt took up collecting works of art. This gave rise to his wife's relatives (two of Saskia's brothers were lawyers) to initiate proceedings against him, accusing him of embezzling Saskia's inheritance. However, at that time, Rembrandt received very high fees and could afford a lot. So in 1639 he bought himself a luxurious house in a wealthy area. A certain milestone in Rembrandt's work is marked by the failure of the large commissioned painting The Night Watch (1642).

The creative aspirations of Rembrandt and his evolution during the thirties lead the artist to solve the problem that confronted him when he received an order for group portrait Amsterdam shooters, designed to decorate the hall of their meetings. This colossal painting (3.59 X 4.38 m) was, as it were, the final chord of the artist’s previous development, the highest peak achieved by the art of his time in creating a historical composition. She has far outgrown the limits of the usual portrait; Rembrandt gave a fundamentally new solution to a theme that had almost a century of tradition behind it.

The group portrait, in which the corporate spirit of the Dutch was clearly manifested, arose as early as the 16th century, but especially developed after the victory of independence. The creation of such images, which in the Northern Netherlands replaced decorative wall painting, required overcoming great difficulties. They were not supposed to turn into everyday scenes, but at the same time it was necessary to achieve the unification of the portrayed people into a single group. In the course of almost a century of development of this most national of the genres of Dutch painting, two different types of such images gradually developed. One - highlighting the festive side of the transmitted scene; the artists united the shooters around the banquet table. The appeal of a number of participants towards the viewer was supposed to emphasize the portrait nature of the picture. Such lively scenes of feasting by members of shooting societies were extremely common in Haarlem. They found their best artistic embodiment in the paintings of Frans Hals. Another type of group portrait was that to which the painters of Amsterdam came. They proceeded mainly from the desire to show the business connection between the members of the corporation, their combat readiness. Cornelis Ketel in the 16th century, Thomas de Keyser in the 17th century created a solemn, somewhat frozen group portrait of shooters with a captain, a lieutenant, a standard-bearer highlighted in the center and other members of the guild symmetrically located on their sides. All of them were equally turned towards the viewer, which is why the picture gave the impression of juxtaposing a number of individual portraits in one composition.

Rembrandt could not be satisfied with such a solution to the problem. He built his picture based on the desire to connect people in a single action, inspired by a common idea for all. A mass scene is given, where for the first time in painting the power of human unity received a vivid expression. In this fundamentally new look at the problem of a group portrait, there is a huge revolutionary significance"Night watch". The painting embodied the heroic spirit of the Dutch people at a decisive moment in their history.

The question of whether the painting was commissioned to commemorate the solemn meeting of Marie de Medici during her visit to Amsterdam in 1636 or, as some scholars suggest, was an illustration of the tragedy of the poet Vondel "Geisbrecht van Amstel" has not yet been finally resolved.

However, the basic character of the scene is clear to everyone looking at this colossal picture. The battle signal sounded. Led by a captain and a lieutenant, the archers line up from under the dark archway of the gate. Drum rolls rumble, guns are loaded, banners are raised. The impulse that has gripped everyone is translated in different ways in a large mass of people. The artist united everyone in a common action, showing at the same time individual versions of a single theme. Stepping beyond the usual group portrait, Rembrandt gave an action full of dynamics and tension. The pathos of the revolutionary years found its artistic embodiment in this image of the performance of the shooters, inspired by a common goal.

In later times, the canvas was cut off on all sides, and the left part suffered mainly, where the picture lost several figures, as well as the top, where the completion of the arch is now not visible. The composition was broken. A copy made in the 17th century better shows the original intention of the artist. The figures of the captain and lieutenant, now occupying a central position, were initially slightly shifted to the right. The composition seemed more balanced, thanks to the side figures brought to the fore, and at the same time more dynamic due to the strongly pronounced forward movement of the central group.

Representatives of the guild of shooters, who posed simply for a group portrait, seemed strange to the artist’s attempt to turn a group portrait into genre painting. However, latest research say there was no conflict. On the contrary, 18 customers paid the artist 1600 guilders - the amount that a well-known university professor received per year.

Saskia dies in 1642. Of the four children from this marriage, only the son Titus survived the mother. At the end of the same year, Rembrandt took into the house a housekeeper - a young widow Gertje Dirks. In 1642-49 he wrote few commissioned works; images are mostly dedicated to topics common man. He wrote The Holy Family several times. In 1646 he again returned to the painting "Danae", for which Saskia posed for him. The figure of Saskia in the painting was recorded as the figure of Gertje Dirks. In 1649 she left the house and was replaced by Hendrik Jegers, nicknamed Stoffels. Dirks accused the artist of breaking her promise to marry, but thanks to the efforts of Rembrandt, the court sentenced her to imprisonment. Hendricke and Rembrandt had a daughter, Cornelia.

In 1653, after the defeat of Holland in the Anglo-Dutch naval war, an economic crisis began in the country. Orders from the burghers became rare, the number of students decreased, and the artist still had an unpaid debt for buying a house. Rembrandt declared himself insolvent and requested that his fortune be transferred to creditors. Thus, he avoided bankruptcy and debtor's prison. In December of that year, Titus and Hendricke founded an art sales company. They hired Rembrandt as an "adviser". This was a legal ploy that managed to circumvent the ruling of the Guild of St. Luke that a bankrupt artist cannot work in the city and receive income from it.

The works of the 50s “Bathsheba (1654), “Aristotle” (1653), the engravings “The Sacrifice of Abraham” (1655) and “The Denial of the Apostle Peter” (1660) demonstrate a weak man, entangled in contradictions, lost, but called to love, greatness and strength. Despite the difficulties, the artist worked hard, but the tastes of the public have changed. Rembrandt's wide, luscious writing under mysterious hidden lighting no longer suited art lovers. Nevertheless, he continued to fulfill the orders of the Amsterdam magistrate, painted portraits of leading entrepreneurs. He was visited by Cosimo de' Medici, the future Duke of Tuscany.

Gradually, Rembrandt's works acquire gloomy tones, exposing the deep emotional meaning of the plot, and ever-increasing melancholy appears in the portraits. But the art of the master reaches the greatest heights. He paints for himself, and among these paintings of his are Assur, Haman and Esther (1660) and The Return prodigal son”- the highest achievements of world culture.

In 1660 Rembrandt married Hendrik, but in 1663 she died at the age of 40. In 1662, the artist created his last commissioned work, "Group portrait of the syndics of the cloth shop", which was his highest achievement in the group portrait genre.

In 1668 his only son died after six months of marriage. Despite the troubles that fell on the artist, the works of the 1660s continue the theme of human capabilities and human perfection. This spiritual power is felt especially sharply in the guise of the blind Homer (1663), the terminally ill artist G. de Leresse (1665), etc. Between 1629 and 1669, Rembrandt created a number of paintings on religious themes and about 60 self-portraits, about 300 etchings and over 1,000 drawings.

A number of self-portraits of the sixties show the sickly puffy face of a prematurely aged man. Rembrandt does not flatter himself, he is merciless in fixing the destruction brought by years. But the wrinkled, ugly face with a thick nose and a sunken mouth is all illuminated by a thoughtful, serious look. In the last self-portrait, painted by the artist in 1669 (The Hague, Mauritshuis), signs of old age are also mercilessly revealed - deep folds, rare White hair, a halo surrounding the head, a sad look directed at the viewer, and deeply penetrating into the soul. In this look is that understanding, that wisdom and that love for man, which the great son of the Dutch people carried through his whole life and which inspired him to create majestic works of later years, such as, for example, the painting “The Return of the Prodigal Son” painted in the last years of his life. ".

Saskia's portrait

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn is a world famous painter and engraver. Rembrandt's biography is very interesting, so it is not surprising that a huge number of art studies and scientific monographs are devoted to the study of his life and work.

early years

The artist Rembrandt, whose biography is discussed in this article, was born in the family of the miller Harmen Gerrits in 1606. His mother's name was Neltje Willemsdochter van Rijn.

Due to the fact that his father was doing well at that time, the future painter received a fairly good education. He was assigned to a Latin school, but the young man did not like to study there, so his success left much to be desired. As a result, the father gave in to his son's requests and allowed him to go to study at the art workshop of Jacob van Swanenbürch.

Rembrandt's biography is interesting in that his first mentor did not have a strong influence on art style painter. The greatest influence on the novice artist was his second teacher, to whom he moved after three years of work at Swanenbürch. They became Peter Lastman, the student to whom Rembrandt decided when he moved to live in Amsterdam.

Creativity and biography of the artist

A brief biography of Rembrandt van Rijn does not allow a detailed description of his entire career and life, but it is still quite possible to make out the main points.

In 1623, the artist returned home to the city of Leiden, where by 1628 he had acquired his own students. Information about his very first known works dates back to 1627.

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn systematically and diligently walked towards his creative success - the biography of a talented painter indicates that in the early stages of his work he worked tirelessly.

At that time, he painted mainly his relatives and friends, as well as scenes from the life of his native city. The Kassel Gallery holds a portrait of a man with a double gold chain around his neck, dating back to this period in the life of the artist, known to the whole world as Rembrandt. The biography and work of this painter even then began to attract attention.

Moving to Amsterdam

In 1631, the young man moved to live in the capital - the city of Amsterdam. From now on, he appears extremely rarely in his native lands. Biography of Rembrandt at this stage of his life and work is replete with evidence that he quickly gained fame and creative success in wealthy circles in Amsterdam.

This is a very fruitful stage in the artist's life. Rembrandt, short biography which is described in our article, worked very hard, fulfilling many orders and at the same time not forgetting to constantly improve. The artist drew from nature and engraved interesting characters, which came across to him in the Jewish quarter of the city.

Then such famous paintings as "Anatomy Lesson" (1632), "Portrait of Coppenol" (1631) and many others were painted.

Creative and financial success

In 1634, Rembrandt married Saskia van Uhlenborch, who was the daughter of a successful lawyer. In many ways, this marked the most successful time in the life and work of the artist. He has enough money and many orders, which he willingly fulfills.

Rembrandt's biography of that period indicates that he was very fond of painting his wife, and not only in portraits, but often her image can also be seen in other paintings of the painter.

Most famous paintings, which depict the young wife of the artist are:

• "Portrait of the bride by Rembrandt";
• "Portrait of Saskia";
• "Rembrandt with his wife".

Rembrandt: a short biography after the death of his first wife

Happy marriage young man didn't last very long. After seven years of marriage, Saskia died suddenly in 1642. And from that moment on, the whole life of the artist begins to change for the worse.

Despite the fact that Rembrandt married a second time, he no longer had the same happiness as in his first marriage. His life partner was his former maid Gendrikie Jagers.

During that life period, the artist experiences severe financial difficulties, and not because of the lack of work and orders, but because of his own passion for collecting works of art, on which he spent most of his income.

His passion for collecting led to the fact that in 1656 he was declared a debtor who was unable to pay off his debts, and in 1658 he had to give up his own house in payment of debts. From that moment the artist lived in a hotel.

Deterioration

Hendrikie and Rembrandt's son Tityus founded a trading company for the sale of works of art. However, things were still not going very well, and after the death of Gendrikie in 1661, the situation became even worse. Seven years later, the son who ran the company’s business also dies.

The financial situation of the great artist becomes simply terrible, but poverty did not kill the desire to create in him. He continues to stubbornly paint pictures, which, however, no longer enjoy the same success with his contemporaries as before, because the tastes of the public have changed over the years.

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn died in October 1669, all alone and in extreme poverty.

Rembrandt: biography, paintings

Unlike the contemporaries of the great painter, next generations appreciated not only early work artist, but also later works and paintings by Rembrandt. Today the master is the personification of Dutch painting and one of its brightest representatives.

The main leitmotif of all his work can be called realism, which permeates all the works of the author. Even depicting mythological scenes, Rembrandt demonstrates the ancient Greek gods and goddesses in the guise of the contemporary inhabitants of Holland. A striking example of this is the painting "Danae", which is kept in the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.

Some mythological paintings generally have a semi-cartoon depiction of gods and goddesses. This can be traced in the work "The Abduction of Ganymede" (the second name is "Ganymede in the claws of an eagle"), stored in the Dresden Museum. Here the proportions of Ganymede's body do not correspond to reality, which does not indicate a low level of skill of the artist of the picture, but about his purposeful caricature approach to depicting the character on the canvas, since in many paintings Rembrandt easily performs even complex elements depicting parts of human physiology and anatomy.

The artist’s portrait works are generally distinguished by realism and believability unprecedented for his time, which speaks of the master’s incredible talent and ability to transfer what he saw in life onto the canvas, as well as his rather deep knowledge of human anatomy and physiology.

For this kind of work, the artist treats various trifles and small accessories very carefully and accurately. This is clearly seen in the pictures:

• "Calligraph" (State Hermitage Museum);
• "Anatomy Lesson" (Mauritshuis);
• "Guild of Weavers" (Museum Amsterdam).

creative style

It is characteristic of Rembrandt's works that all the important elements of the picture are always brought to the fore by the artist, regardless of compositional features. The artist does not always strive to show that the people or objects depicted are correct from the point of view of reality. It is characterized by deliberate exaggeration.

The main feature that has passed through all his works is the absence of bright colors and colorfulness. Moreover, this can be seen from the earliest works of the artist. And this greatly distinguishes them from the paintings of Italian masters or, for example, from the work of the Flemish painter Rubens.

Rembrandt placed the greatest emphasis on the play of colors with light and shadow. In this, his skill is considered recognized and unsurpassed to this day. Sometimes the play of colors on the artist's canvases is so strong that art experts still argue what time of day is depicted in the picture.

One of brightest examples Rembrandt's paintings with such a magnificent palette is perhaps his most famous painting "The Night Watch", disputes about which do not stop today.

"The night Watch"

This picture is officially titled "The performance of the rifle company of Captain Frans Banning Cock and Lieutenant Willem van Ruytenbürg", but all over the world it is commonly called simply "Night Watch".

However, due to the artist’s love for the light-shadow play of colors described above, disputes about what time of day is depicted in the picture, day or night, are still ongoing and there is no definite answer.

This canvas is a symbol and the most bright work not only Rembrandt himself, but the entire Dutch school of painting. It is considered the property of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and world art in general.

Millions of tourists from all over the world come to Amsterdam every year to visit State Museum(Rijksmuseum) and admire the famous painting. Everyone sees something of their own in it, everyone has their own impression and opinion about this canvas. But the fact that this magnificent work of the famous creator does not leave absolutely no one indifferent always remains unchanged.

Conclusion

Today, the painter and engraver Rembrandt, whose brief biography and work were described in this article, is the pride of not only home country. He is known all over the world, and his paintings are admired by connoisseurs of art and painting all over the planet. The artist's paintings are willingly bought for fabulous money at auctions where paintings and works of art are sold, and the name of Rembrandt is well known to any person who has even the slightest idea about art.

It is difficult to overestimate the creative contribution of this great artist to the art and culture of his country and the whole world. No wonder today the Dutch school of painting is primarily associated with the name of Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn.

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669), Dutch painter.

Entering the University of Leiden in 1620, Rembrandt soon left him and began to study painting. In 1625-1631. he worked in his hometown. The main ones in his work early period there were paintings on religious subjects, as well as portraits.

1632 turned out to be a happy year for Rembrandt. He moved to Amsterdam and married a wealthy townswoman Saskia van Uylenburgh, and the canvas “The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Tulip” brought the young painter universal recognition.

For the master began the most prosperous decade in his life. He had many students (the school of Rembrandt). During this period, he painted such masterpieces as "Self-portrait with Saskia" (1635) and "Danae" (1636).

The extremely cheerful art of Rembrandt of the 30s. combines the experience of Renaissance and Baroque masters and an innovative approach to classical subjects.

The period of success ended abruptly in 1642: the magnificent work "Night Watch" - a group portrait of members of the Shooting Guild of Amsterdam - was rejected by customers who did not appreciate the artist's innovations and subjected him to sharp criticism.

Rembrandt practically stopped receiving orders, almost all the students left him. Saskia died the same year.

From the 40s. Rembrandt abandoned theatrical effects in his work, and the mystical, contemplative beginning intensified in his painting. Often the artist turned to the image of his second wife - Hendrikje Stoffels.

The painting "The Holy Family" (1645), a series of self-portraits, and the best landscapes are marked by depth, calmness and emotional richness. But failures continued to haunt Rembrandt: in 1656 he was declared bankrupt, the property was sold at auction, and the family moved to a modest house in the Jewish quarter of Amsterdam.

The painting “The Conspiracy of Julius Civilis” (1661) commissioned by the town hall shared the fate of the “Night Watch”. In 1663 the artist buried his wife and son.

Despite the deterioration of vision, Rembrandt continued to paint. A peculiar result of his work was the canvas "The Return of the Prodigal Son" (1668-1669).

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn was born in the Dutch city of Leiden in 1606 on July 15. Rembrandt's father was a wealthy miller, his mother baked well, was the daughter of a baker. The surname "van Rijn" literally means "from the Rhine", that is, from the Rhine River, where Rembrandt's great-grandfathers had mills. Of the 10 children in the family, Rembrandt was the youngest. Other children followed in the footsteps of their parents, and Rembrandt chose a different path - an artistic one, and was educated at a Latin school.

At the age of 13, Rembrandt began to learn to draw, and also entered the city university. Age then did not bother anyone, the main thing at that time was knowledge at the level. Many scholars suggest that Rembrandt went to university not to study, but to get a deferment from the army.

Rembrandt's first teacher was Jacob van Swanenbürch.. In his workshop, the future artist spent about three years, then moved to Amsterdam to study with Peter Lastman. From 1625 to 1626 Rembrandt returned to his hometown, and made acquaintances with artists, and some of Lastman's students.

Nevertheless, after much deliberation, Rembrandt decided that an artist's career should be done in the capital of Holland, and again moved to Amsterdam.

In 1634 Rembrandt married Saskia. By the time of their marriage, everyone had a good fortune (Rembrandt had paintings, and Saskia's parents left an impressive legacy). So it wasn't an arranged marriage. They truly loved each other passionately.

In 1635 - 1640s. wife bore Rembrandt three children, but they all died as newborns. In 1641, Saskia gave birth to a son, who was named Titus. The child survived, but, unfortunately, the mother herself died at the age of 29.

After the death of his wife, Rembrandt was not himself, he did not know what to do, and found solace in drawing. It was in the year when his wife died that he completed the painting "Night Watch". With Titus, the young father could not cope and therefore hired a nanny for the child - Gertje Dirks, who became his mistress. About 2 years have passed, and the nanny in the house has changed. She became a young girl Hendrikje Stoffels. What happened to Gertier Dirks? She sued Rembrandt, believing that he violated the marriage contract, but she lost the argument, and was sent to a correctional home, where she spent 5 years. Released, she died a year later.

The new nanny Hendrikje Stoffels bore Rembrandt two children. Their first child, a boy, died in infancy, and their daughter Karnelia, the only one who outlived her father.

Few people know that Rembrandt had a very peculiar collection which included pictures Italian artists, different drawings, engravings, various busts and even weapons.

Sunset of Rembrandt's life

Things were going badly for Rembrandt. There was not enough money, the number of orders decreased. Therefore, the artist sold part of his collection, but this did not save him either. He was on the verge of going to prison, but the court was in his favor, so he was allowed to sell all his property and pay off his debts. He even lived for some time in a house that no longer belonged to him.

Meanwhile, Titus and his mother organized a firm that traded in art objects in order to somehow help Rembrandt. In truth, until the end of his life, the artist never paid off many, but this did not spoil Rembrandt's reputation, he remained a worthy person in the eyes of people.

Rembrandt's death was very sad. In 1663, the artist's beloved, Hendrikje, died. Some time later, Rembrandt buried his son Titus and his bride. In 1669, on October 4, he himself left this world, but forever left a mark in the hearts of people who love him.

Biography of Rembrandt tragic. Khu-dozh-nik was dying in poverty, but before that he had lost all his relatives. His paintings during his lifetime were not valued, and his students betrayed him in the most difficult period. But the trials did not break the great painter, the strength of his spirit was so great that he could also over his own sorrows, and even over my own death.

Age of Rembrandt

In the seventeenth century Holland was one of the richest states in Europe. Goods flocked to Amsterdam from all over the world. Bankers and merchants wanted to see works that would reflect their life as truthfully as possible. Under such conditions, painting was the most popular and developed form of art. Every self-respecting Dutchman believed that the picture must certainly be present in his home. And it was under such conditions that creative biography Rembrandt.

Dutch artists

Some masters painted pictures, others - still lifes, the third ones were wonderfully given genre scenes. The fourth preferred to portray nature. However, they all sought to depict reality truthfully and without embellishment. But, no matter how great the skill of the Dutch painters was, Rembrandt surpassed everyone.

Such people are born once in a century, or even less often. Simplicity and humanity lived in his skill, but in himself - a whole universe. Like no other, to know inner world man and his complex soul feelings could Rembrandt. A brief biography of this master is set out today in various sources, and after reading it, one wonders how this man could create his canvases when need forced them to give them for nothing, and his fellow writers contemptuously called him a "heretic in painting." Indeed, a true artist creates even when stones are thrown at him.

lonely painter

He was never surrounded by admirers. Not a single poet sang it during his lifetime. This painter was not invited to official celebrations, and on the days of grandiose festivities, he was also forgotten about. However, he was not upset. Rembrandt's usual favorite company consisted of shopkeepers, philistines, peasants and artisans. The common people were extremely close to him. The artist's favorite place was one of the port taverns, where sailors, itinerant actors and petty thieves scurried around. There he would sit for hours, observing and making sketches. In the world of art, which is nothing but a special reflection of reality, which can only be seen by the elect, Rembrandt spent his whole life. Biography, summary which represents only the most significant facts from life, is set out below. However, in order to feel the incredible skill of this brilliant personality, you need to see the works. After all, the life of the artist is conveyed in his paintings.

Birth of a genius

In 1606, a son was born into the family of a wealthy Dutch miller named Harmens, who became the sixth child. They called him Rembrandt. The mill was located near the city of the Rhine, and therefore Van Rhine was added to the name of all family members. Full name one of the greatest figures in world painting - Rembrandt Harmenszoon Van Rijn.

A brief biography of this person can be described in just a few words: continuous work and constant creative search. Perhaps it was talent that saved him. There were so many losses and disappointments in the life of the artist that, perhaps, only art could get rid of despair. But before moving on to tragic events in his life, a few words should be said about that time, which was distinguished by cloudlessness and unprecedented success in creativity. It is worth paying tribute to the fate of the great master. Rembrandt van Rijn was not always lonely and unhappy.

short biography

As a child, Rembrandt studied Latin and other important sciences. Parents did not skimp on the education of their beloved son, because they dreamed that he would become an official or a famous scientist. However, the craving for drawing, which in early years appeared in cute drawings, later, already in adolescence, she brought Rembrandt to the workshop of one of the local painters. There he studied for only six months, and then opened his own.

Rembrandt's teachers were contemporaries and artists of the past. He mastered the technique of painting and engraving, studied the art of Italy from copies. One of the first paintings is "Tulpa Anatomy Lesson". We can say that it was from this canvas that Rembrandt the artist began his independent creative path. His biography says that the first few years after graduating from painting in his life were only joyful events.

Saxia

At twenty-five, the artist moved to the capital, and three years later he married the daughter of the burgomaster. The girl's name was Saxia. And she became the main muse of the master. The image of his wife is immortalized by the famous portrait painter with extraordinary tenderness.

Family happiness coincided with a creative take-off - Rembrandt began to receive highly paid orders from wealthy people. At the same time, he had many students. The artist was finally able to acquire own house. whose brief biography is set out in the article, not only wrote a lot, but also revered the talent of other masters. He was a collector, collecting authentic shells, vases and antique busts. In his new house there was enough space for a workshop, for living rooms, and for a special room where the works of Raphael, Dürer and Mantegna were kept.

So began his Rembrandt, whose brief biography includes only one small period of recognition and success, namely, the 30s. During this time, the artist painted more than sixty portraits. The most famous of them is "Danae". During the period of work on this picture, the painter was at the zenith of fame.

But suddenly everything changed: three children died, his beloved wife died. Soon he lost his mother and sisters. Rembrandt was left alone with his young son. Life gave a crack that did not last until the end of his days.

Poverty

In the 50s, orders became less and less. Wealthy people no longer needed his portraits. Paintings were not required in churches either. This was explained by the fact that Protestantism nevertheless won in Holland, whose representatives looked very negatively at the use of religious motifs in the visual arts.

In addition, outstanding debts made themselves felt. Rembrandt was officially sued. He was declared insolvent, and all the property was sold. But even after that, not all creditors were satisfied, and the court ruled that the paintings that would be created in the future should also go to pay off the remaining debts. All this meant an absolutely beggarly existence.

The painter, who in the past knew fame and fortune, by the age of fifty turned into a lonely, forgotten poor man. Although he still wrote a lot, all his canvases were immediately taken away by creditors. The consolation was the second wife, with whom Rembrandt was only in a civil marriage, which was very disapprovingly perceived by society. However, marrying this woman for him meant the loss of custody of his son.

Thus began a new difficult period, which Rembrandt Harmens van Rijn nevertheless endured with unusual courage. From that moment on, the artist's biography consists more of sorrows, and even if there were moments of enlightenment, it was not for long, and then some tragedy happened again.

Hendrickje

The image of the second wife is also captured on the canvases of the famous painter. She was inferior to the first in youth and beauty, but the artist looked at her with eyes of love and portrayed her with great warmth. But the church condemned his way of life, and the daughter given to Rembrandt by his second wife was declared illegitimate. The plight led to the fact that the painter's family was forced to move to one of the poorest quarters of Amsterdam.

Rembrandt, whose biography contains many sad facts, learned true love. And Hendrickje was not only caring and loving wife, but also distinguished by extraordinary kindness. This woman was able to replace the mother of Rembrandt's son from his first marriage.

At the same time managed to improve the financial situation. In this, the artist was helped by his son, who, together with his stepmother, opened an antique shop. But fate continued to test the artist. In 1663 he lost his beloved Hendrickje Rembrandt.

The biography and books devoted to the biography of the great master tell that there was another muse in his life. This woman was much younger than Rembrandt, but the unfortunate artist survived her.

The son died five years after the death of Hendrickje. Only his daughter remained with Rembrandt, who at that time was fourteen. But, in spite of everything, the painter did not stop there and did not give up. He also continued to paint pictures, cut engravings...

In 1669 great painter died in the arms of his daughter. He left quietly and imperceptibly. And his talent was appreciated only after his death.

Creation

Biography of Rembrandt - the biography of the martyr. His work is the pinnacle. This master, however, was extremely lonely among his fellow artists. His contemporaries did not recognize him. But the art of the Baroque, and above all the work of Michelangelo, had a huge influence on the work of the Dutch painter.

The artist painted what he saw with his own eyes in real life. Rembrandt's biography says that his life developed in such a way that he had the opportunity to see the world without embellishment. He transferred the sad experience of contemplation to the canvas. But the way he did it was unusually poetic. On the canvases of Van Rijn, twilight always reigns. Gentle golden light highlights the figures from it.

Biblical motives

Religion occupied an important place in the work of the Dutch artist. It was here that he showed the originality of his skill. The main source of inspiration throughout creative way for Rembrandt were biblical stories. Even when paintings on religious themes were no longer in demand, he painted them for himself, because he felt an irresistible need for this. In the canvases dedicated to this topic, he put his soul, his prayer, as well as a deep reading of the Gospel.

The latest works of the artist are amazing. And the first thing that catches your eye is the refinement of style, the depth of penetration into the inner world artistic images. Biography of Rembrandt and his paintings seem to have no connection. The images on the canvases are so peaceful that it does not fit in with the difficult tragic fate of the author.

New genre

In recent years, the artist often painted self-portraits. When looking at them, one gets the impression that Rembrandt was trying to unravel own life. Looking into them, as into a mirror, he sought to know his fate and the plan of God, which so bizarrely led him through life. His self-portraits were not only the pinnacle of creativity. There is nothing like it in world art. These canvases have no analogues in the history of portraiture.

On recent self-portraits a person appears with a spiritual face, who heroically endures difficult trials and overcomes the bitterness of loss. Rembrandt is the founder of a peculiar kind. Such paintings convey not only the appearance, but also the fate of a person, his inner world.

The biography and work of Rembrandt in the fifties are marked primarily by outstanding achievements in writing a portrait. During this period, his works were distinguished, as a rule, by their impressive size, monumentality of forms and calm, peaceful poses. The sitters often sat in pompous deep armchairs with their hands folded on their knees and their faces turned to the viewer. One of the characteristic features of the great portrait painter is the highlighting of the face and hands with light.

As a rule, the sitters were middle-aged people, wise by hard life experience - old men and women with sad thoughts on their faces and overwork on their hands. Such models provided the artist with the opportunity to brilliantly demonstrate not only the external signs of old age, but also the inner world of a person. In the unusually soulful portraits of the great Rembrandt, one can feel the life lived by a person after a long study. When the master depicted relatives, friends, unfamiliar old people, city beggars, he could convey with amazing vigilance slightly perceptible spiritual movements, a lively trembling in his face, and even a change of mood.

The legacy of this master is enormous. Rembrandt was distinguished by his incredible capacity for work: he created more than two hundred and fifty paintings, three hundred engravings and thousands of drawings. Great master died in poverty. And only after death, the canvases created by Rembrandt began to be valued dearly.

A brief biography and work of the Dutch painter is presented in this article. But this gives a very superficial understanding of hard way genius who played an outstanding role in the development of the world visual arts. Today, the master's canvases are in many museums around the world and are included in private collections.