Rembrandt

Rembrandt commonly called Rembrandt van Rhyn, was the son of Hermann Gerritsz, and was born in his father's mill on the banks of the Rhine, between Leyderdorp and Koudekerk, near Leyden, June 15, 1606 (or 1608). The former date rests on the authority of Orlers, Description of Leyden (1641). The latter date rests on the paints er's marriage certificate, lately discovered, dated June 10, 1634, in which Rembrandt's age is stated to be twentysix. He became the pupil of Jacob van Swanenburg, with whom he remained three years. He studied also under Pieter Lastman at Amsterdam, and Jacob Pinas at Haarlem. He settled at Amsterdam in 1630, and appears to have died there, according to Immerzeel, July 19, 1664; but no register of his burial has yet been discovered. Rembrandt was equally distinguished as an etcher and a painter. His etchings amount to nearly 400, and they are dated from 1628 to 1661. The chief characteristic of his works is forcible light and shade. Among his most remarkable historical paintings are Moses Destroying the Tables of the Law: — The Sacrifice of Abraham: — The Woman Taken in Adultery: — The Descent from the Cross: — The Nativity: — Christ in the Garden with Mary Magdalene: — and The Adoration of the Magi. There are 640 of his paintings specified in Smith's Catalogue. The best of them are still owned in Holland. He is well represented in the National Gallery, and his influence has been more direct upon the British school of painters than that of any other master. See Immerzeel, Aanteekeningen op de Lofr'edd op Rembrandt, also De Levens en Werken der Hollandsche en Vlaamsche Kunstschilders, etc. (1843); Bartsch, Le Peintre-graveur; Burnet, Rembr. and his Works (1848); Middleton, Etched Work of Rembr. (Lond. 1879).