Rembrandt Biography: Middle Years

Rembrandt van Rijn’s middle years were quite stressful.  In 1631 or 1632 he relocated to Amsterdam where he quickly established himself as the chief portrait painter of the city.  During the early years in Amsterdam Rembrandt stayed with art dealer, Hendrick Uylenburgh, who probably helped in his introduction as an artist to the city.  Rembrandt married Uylenburgh’s cousin, Saskia van Uylenburge, who came from a wealthy family, having a father who had been a lawyer and mayor. None of Rembrandt’s relatives were present at the wedding, but his marriage to Saskia seemed to be the turning point in his life.

In 1632, his painting Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Tulp, a group portrait which gained him much acclaim and established his reputation.  He was commissioned to paint portraits for many of the city’s wealthy residents.  His studio was full of pupils including Jacob Backer, Govert Flinck, Ferdinand Bol, and eventually Carel Fabritius, and Nicholas Maes.  It was also about this time that he began to sign his works using only his forename, Rembrandt, as he is most popularly known today.

With his wealth Rembrandt began collecting art that he would study and costumes that he would use in his paintings.  In 1635 Rembrandt and his new wife Saskia moved into their own house in the fashionable Nieuwe Doelenstraat.  While in their new home he began his Old Testament and mythological paintings.  He would use his Jewish neighbors as his models.  He used the richness and energy of Baroque movements with rich colors.  The Sacrifice of Abraham and The Blinding of Samson are examples of his dramatic works during this time. 

In 1639, when he was 33, financial difficulties began.  The couple moved to a more sophisticated house (which is now the Rembrandt House Museum) in Jodenbreestraat. His large income should have allowed the two to live quite easily in the prominent household, not having to worry about financing the mortgage, but his spending habits kept up with the generous income. It is also suggested that he may have made some unwise investments that helped break his income.

In 1642, his model and wife, Saskia died of tuberculosis.  Three of their four children had died in infancy and now Rembrandt was left with his only surviving child, Titus, who later became his favorite subject to paint.  Geertge Dircks, was hired during Saskia’s sickness as his son’s nurse and eventually became Rembrandt’s lover.  In the late 1640s a relationship developed with the young, Hendrickje Stoffels, a maid of Rembrandt’s, who later bore him a daughter named Cornelia.  Rembrandt never married Stoffels though the two were considered legally wed by common law.   

The same year as his wife’s death Rembrandt painted the work that is commonly referred to as The Night Watch.  The painting reflects much color, movement and light as it depicts a group portrait with many individual figures yet interest falls on the entire group sacrificing individual identities.  Around this time the commissions of portraits began to die off and he focused more on his etching, which he taught himself how to do.

Continue to Rembrandt Biography Late Years.