Rembrandt's biography is tragic. The artist was dying in poverty, but before he lost all his loved ones. His paintings were not appreciated during his lifetime, and the 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 laugh at his own sorrows, and even over death itself.
The Age of Rembrandt
In the seventeenth century, Holland was one of the richest states in Europe. Various goods from all over the world flocked to Amsterdam. Bankers and merchants wanted to see works that would truly reflect their life. In 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 precisely under such conditions that Rembrandt's creative biography developed.
Dutch artists
Some masters painted, others - still lifes, while others gave wonderful genre scenes. The fourth preferred to portray nature. However, they all sought to portray reality truthfully and without embellishment. But, no matter how great the skill of the Dutch painters, Rembrandt surpassed everyone.
Such people are born once a century, or even less. In his mastery there lived simplicity and humanity, but in himself there was a whole universe. Like no other, Rembrandt was able to know the inner world of a person and his complex emotional experiences. A brief biography of this master is set forth today in various sources, and, after reading it, one wonders how this person could create his canvases when need forced them to give them up for nothing, and his fellow writers contemptuously called him "heretic in painting." Truly, 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 even in the days of grandiose festivities he was also forgotten. However, he was not upset. Rembrandt’s usual favorite company consisted of shopkeepers, philistines, peasants and artisans. Ordinary people were extremely close to him. The artist’s favorite place was one of the port zucchini, where sailors, roving actors and petty thieves scurried about. There he sat for hours, watching and making sketches. In the world of art, which is nothing more than a special reflection of reality, which was given only to the elect, Rembrandt spent his whole life. A biography, the summary of which represents only the most significant facts from life, is set out below. However, in order to feel the incredible mastery of this brilliant personality, you need to see the works. After all, the artist’s life is conveyed in his paintings.
The birth of a genius
In 1606, a son was born in the family of a Dutch prosperous miller named Harmens, who became the sixth child. They called him Rembrandt. The mill was located near the city of Rhine, and therefore Van Rhine was added to the name of all family members. The full name of one of the greatest figures in world painting is 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 precisely the talent that saved him. In the life of the artist there were so many losses and disappointments that, perhaps, only art could relieve despair. But before moving on to the 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 the early years manifested itself in cute drawings, later, already in adolescence, led 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 in copies. One of the first paintings is “The Tulp Anatomy Lesson”. We can say that it was from this canvas that the independent creative path began by Rembrandt the artist. His biography says that the first few years after graduating from painting in his life there were only joyful events.
Saxia
At twenty-five years, the artist moved to the capital, and three years later he married the daughter of the burgomaster. They called the girl 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 high-paid orders from wealthy people. And at the same time he had a lot of students. The artist was finally able to acquire his own home. Rembrandt Van Rijn, whose brief biography is presented in the article, not only wrote a lot, but also respected the talent of other masters. He was engaged in collecting, collecting authentic Persian miniatures, shells, vases and antique busts. In his new house there was enough space for the workshop, for living rooms, and for a special room where the works of Raphael, Durer and Mantegna were stored.
So began his career Rembrandt, whose brief biography includes only one small period of recognition and success, namely the 30s. At this time, the artist painted more than sixty portraits. The most famous of them is Danae. During the 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, there were fewer and fewer orders. Wealthy people no longer needed his portraits. In churches, paintings were also not required. This was explained by the fact that Protestantism nevertheless triumphed in Holland, whose representatives very negatively looked at the use of religious motifs in the visual arts.
In addition, outstanding debts made themselves felt. An official lawsuit was filed against Rembrandt. He was declared insolvent, and all property was sold out. But even after that, not all creditors were satisfied, and the court ruled that the paintings to be created in the future should also go towards paying off the remaining debts. All this meant an absolutely miserable existence.
The painter, who in the past knew fame and fortune, turned into a lonely, forgotten poor man by the age of fifty. Although he still wrote a lot, all his paintings were immediately taken away by the creditors. The consolation was the second wife, with whom Rembrandt was only in a civil marriage, which was very disapproved of by society. However, marriage to this woman for him meant the loss of guardianship over his son.
Thus began a new difficult period, which was nevertheless courageously endured by Rembrandt Harmenszoon Van Rijn. The artist’s biography from this moment consists more of sorrows, and even if the minutes of enlightenment came, then not for long, and then again some kind of tragedy happened.
Hendricier
The image of the second wife is also captured on the canvases of the famous painter. By youth and beauty she was inferior to the first, but the artist looked at her through the eyes of love and portrayed with great warmth. But the church condemned his lifestyle, and the daughter, who gave Rembrandt a second wife, was declared illegitimate. Poverty led to the fact that the family of the painter was forced to move to one of the poorest quarters of Amsterdam.
Rembrandt, whose biography contains many sad facts, knew true love. And Hendrickier was not only a caring and loving wife, but also distinguished by extraordinary kindness. This woman was able to replace the mother with Rembrandt's son from her first marriage.
For a while, it was possible to correct the financial situation. The son helped this artist, who, together with his stepmother, opened an antique store. But fate continued to experience the artist. In 1663, he lost his beloved Hendrick Rembrandt.
Biography and books dedicated to the biography of the great master, narrate that in his life there was another muse. This woman was much younger than Rembrandt, but her unhappy artist survived.
The son died five years after the death of Hendrikje. With Rembrandt there was only a daughter, who was fourteen at that time. But, in spite of everything, the painter did not stop there and did not give up. He also continued to paint, cut engravings ...
In 1669, the great painter died in the arms of his daughter. He left quietly and imperceptibly. And his talent was appreciated only after his death.
Creation
Rembrandt's biography is the biography of a martyr. His work is the pinnacle of Dutch painting. This master, however, was extremely lonely among his fellow artists. Contemporaries did not recognize him. But the art of the Dutch painter was greatly influenced by the art of baroque, and above all the work of Michelangelo.
The artist wrote what he saw with his own eyes in real life. Rembrandt's biography says that his life was formed in such a way that he had the opportunity to see the world around him without embellishment. He transferred the sad experience of contemplation to the canvas. But the way he did it was distinguished by extraordinary poeticity. On the canvases of Van Rijn twilight always reigns. A gentle golden light makes the figures stand out from it.
Bible motives
An important place in the work of the Dutch artist was religion. It was here that he showed the originality of his skill. The main source of inspiration throughout the career for Rembrandt was the biblical subjects. Even when paintings on religious subjects ceased to be in demand, he painted them for himself, because he felt an irresistible need for this. In the canvases devoted 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 the style, the depth of penetration into the inner world of artistic images. Rembrandt's biography and his paintings seem to have no connection. The images on the canvases are so peaceful that this in no way can be combined with the difficult tragic fate of the author.
New genre
In recent years, the artist often painted self-portraits. Looking at them gives the impression that Rembrandt was trying to unravel his own life. Looking in them like in a mirror, he strove to know his fate and the purpose of God, which had led him so bizarrely through life. His self-portraits were not only the pinnacle of creativity. There is nothing like this in world art. These canvases have no analogues in the history of portraiture.
At the last self-portraits, a man with a spiritual face appears who heroically endures difficult trials and overcomes the bitterness of loss. Rembrandt is the founder of a unique genre of portrait biography. Such paintings convey not only the appearance, but also the fate of man, his inner world.
The biography and work of Rembrandt of the fifties was marked first of all by outstanding achievements in painting a portrait. During this period, his works were distinguished, as a rule, by their impressive size, monumental forms and calm, peaceful postures. The sitters often sat in pompous recliners, arms folded in their lap and turned their faces 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, sitters were middle-aged people, wise by hard life experiences - old people and old women with the intaglio print of gloomy 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 man. In the unusually soulful portraits of the great Rembrandt, one can feel the life lived by a person with a long study. When the master portrayed relatives, friends, unfamiliar old people, urban beggars, he could convey with subtle vigilance slightly perceptible spiritual movements, lively awe in his face and even a change of mood.
The legacy of this master is enormous. Rembrandt was remarkable for his incredible capacity for work: he created more than two hundred and fifty paintings, three hundred prints and thousands of drawings. The great master died in poverty. And only after death did the paintings created by Rembrandt become appreciated.
A brief biography and the work of the Dutch painter is presented in this article. But this gives a very superficial concept of the difficult path of a genius who played an outstanding role in the development of world fine art. Today, the master’s canvases are in many museums in the world and are included in private collections.