Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn (1606 - 1669)

Rembrandt attended the Latin school in Leiden from 1613 until 1620, then enrolled at the Faculty of Philosophy of Leiden University to study Ancient Languages, but soon abandoned this in favour of a two-year apprenticeship with the history painter Jacob van Swanenburgh (1571–1638). Although he had never been to Italy, his subsequent brief but formative apprenticeship with Pieter Lastman (1583–1633) in Amsterdam in 1624 acquainted him with the work of Adam Elsheimer (1578–1610) and Caravaggio (1573–1610). In 1625 he opened a studio in Leiden together with Jan Lievens (1607– 1674). His encounter with the statesman and art connoisseur Constantijn Huygens (1596–1687) in 1628 brought him commissions and success. In 1631 he moved to Amsterdam, where he worked until his death. Rembrandt’s work, characterised by diversity of subjects, is distinguished from that of his contemporaries by his inventiveness and his readiness to experiment with new techniques.

Author: Oehring Erika

Literature: DUCKE Astrid, HABERSATTER Thomas, OEHRING Erika: Masterworks. Residenzgalerie Salzburg. Salzburg 2015, S. 54