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Chronology
Thomas E. Rassieur and Joanna Karlgaard
Description: Rembrandt’s Journey: Painter · Draftsman · Etcher
Rembrandt’s Journey: Painter · Draftsman · Etcher
Chronology
Author
Thomas E. Rassieur and Joanna Karlgaard
PublisherMuseum of Fine Arts, Boston
Copyright© 2003 by Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
https://doi.org/10.37862/aaeportal.00241.008
Stable URL: https://aaeportal.com/?id=-21079
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Chronology
Compiled by Joanna Karlgaard and Thomas E. Rassieur
1589
Rembrandt’s parents, Harmen Gerritsz. van Rijn (1569–1630) and Neeltgen (Cornelia) Willemsdr. van Zuytbrouck (1568–1640), marry in Leiden. They are comfortably middle class. Historically a center of religion and scholarship, Leiden is in the early stages of rapid population growth centered on its textile industry.
1606
July 15—Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn born in Leiden. The ninth of ten or more children.
about 1613–19
Presumably attends the Latin school in Leiden.
1620
Enrolls in the University of Leiden but never studies there.
about 1621–23
Three-year apprenticeship in Leiden with Jacob Isaacsz. van Swanenburgh (1571–1638), painter of dramatically illuminated hell scenes.
1624
Six-month apprenticeship in Amsterdam with Pieter Lastman (1583–1633), painter of biblical, mythological, and historical subjects.
1625
Working as an independent master in Leiden. Paints Stoning of St. Stephen (Lyon, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Corpus A1), his earliest known dated painting.
about 1626
Begins to make etchings (see nos. 7–10).
Engaged in friendly rivalry with painter Jan Lievens (1607–1674), with whom he possibly shared studio space.
1628
First dated etchings, studies of a woman traditionally identified as his mother (see nos. 20, 21).
Takes on the first of his pupils, Gerrit Dou (1613–1674) and Isaac Jouderville (1613–1648). Over the years he will have over fifty students.
about 1628–29
Constantijn Huygens (1596–1687), connoisseur of the arts and private secretary to the stadholder Frederik Hendrik (1584–1647) at the court in The Hague, writes admiringly in his unpublished memoirs of Rembrandt’s and Lievens’s art.
1629
Paints and etches his earliest dated self-portraits (Munich, Alte Pinakothek, Corpus A19, and nos. 13, 14).
1630
Harmen van Rijn, Rembrandt’s father, dies. Collaboration with printmaker Jan van Vliet begins.
1631
Apparently begins to establish ties with Amsterdam art trade.
Paints Nicolaes Ruts (New York, Frick Collection, Corpus A43), first known portrait of an Amsterdam patron.
Hendrick Uylenburgh (1584–1661), prominent Amsterdam art dealer, owes Rembrandt 1,000 guilders.
about 1631
Rembrandt makes his first etchings of nude models, including Diana at the Bath (no. 196).
1631–34
In Uylenburgh’s Amsterdam workshop, primarily active painting portraits of middle-class scholars, preachers, artisans, and small businessmen but also biblical and mythological subjects.
Printmaking activity continues, apparently in Leiden.
1632
Paints The Anatomy Lesson of Doctor Nicolaes Tulp (The Hague, Mauritshuis, Corpus A51), his first large group portrait.
1633
Rembrandt’s painted Self-Portrait with Beret and Gold Chain recorded in the collection of King Charles I of England as a gift from Sir Robert Kerr, ambassador to the Netherlands.
Pieter Lastman, Rembrandt’s former teacher, dies.
On the occasion of their betrothal Rembrandt makes a silverpoint drawing on vellum of Saskia Uylenburgh (1612–1642, cousin of Hendrick Uylenburgh).
about 1633
Completes two paintings on the theme of Christ’s Passion for stadholder Frederik Hendrik: The Raising of the Cross and The Descent from the Cross (Munich, Alte Pinakothek, Corpus A65 and A69).
1634
Becomes a citizen of Amsterdam and joins the Guild of St. Luke (the city’s guild of painters).
Marries Saskia Uylenburgh.
1635
Rents house in the Nieuwe Doelenstraat, a fashionable address.
Apparently now working independently of Hendrick Uylenburgh.
First child, son Rombertus (named after Saskia’s father), born.
1636
Rombertus dies.
Corresponds with Huygens about the Passion series for Frederik Hendrik and completes another picture for it.
Ferdinand Bol (1616–1680) becomes a pupil.
1637
Moves to rented house on Binnen-Amstel.
1638
Daughter Cornelia born and dies in infancy.
Unsuccessfully sues members of Saskia’s family to counter slanderous accusations that she was squandering her parents’ legacy.
1639
Buys a magnificent house for 13,000 guilders on the Sint-Anthonisbreestraat (today the Rembrandt House Museum) from Christoffel Thijs (1603–1680) and Pieter Belten II (1606–1639). Makes down payment of 3,250 guilders and agrees to pay five percent interest on the balance.
Etches Self-Portrait at a Stone Sill (no. 81), his last self-portrait etching until 1648.
Again corresponds with Constantijn Huygens about Passion paintings for Frederik Hendrik. Seeks payment and completes two further pictures for the series.
1640
Second daughter Cornelia born and dies in infancy.
Rembrandt’s mother dies.
Samuel van Hoogstraten (1627–1678) becomes a pupil.
1641
Son Titus born—only child of Rembrandt and Saskia to survive infancy.
First dated landscape etchings, including Landscape with a Cottage and Haybarn (no. 118) and The Windmill (no. 119).
Jan Jansz. Orlers (1570–1646) publishes the first brief biography of Rembrandt in a book about Leiden.
Philips Angel (1617/18–1664), painter and art critic, praises Rembrandt’s painting The Wedding of Samson in a lecture to artists in Leiden. The text is published the following year as Lof der Schilderkunst (In Praise of Painting).
1642
Saskia dies.
Completes the large-scale group militia portrait The Nightwatch (Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum, on loan from the City of Amsterdam, Corpus A146).
about 1642
Geertje Dircx (1610/15–after 1656) employed as a nurse for Titus and becomes Rembrandt’s mistress.
1643
Etches Landscape with the Three Trees (no. 121).
1646
Frederik Hendrik pays Rembrandt 2,400 guilders for two further Passion paintings of the infancy of Christ.
1647
Rembrandt estimates that at the time of Saskia’s death their joint estate—the house and its contents—was worth 40,750 guilders.
Etches portrait of Jan Six (1618–1700, no. 74), one of his most significant and socially prominent patrons.
about 1647
Obtains a supply of Japanese paper.
Hendrickje Stoffels (about 1625–1663) is employed as a live-in servant and becomes Rembrandt’s new mistress.
1648
Rembrandt etches his self-portrait as a working artist (no. 213).
Geertje Dircx makes a will in January, leaving her possessions to Titus van Rijn.
about 1648
Completes Christ Preaching (no. 135), known since the seventeenth century as “The Hundred Guilder Print.”
1649
Geertje Dircx sues Rembrandt for breach of marital promise. The Chamber of Marital Affairs orders him to pay her an annual allowance of 200 guilders, slightly more than Rembrandt had previously offered.
1650
Rembrandt pays to have Geertje committed to the Spinning House (woman’s house of correction) in Gouda.
1652
Last dated landscape prints, including Clump of Trees with a Vista (no. 192).
Makes two drawings for the album amicorum (friendship album) of Jan Six.
1653
Christoffel Thijs demands that Rembrandt pay the 8,470.16-guilder debt, interest, and taxes still owed for the Sint-Anthonisbreestraat house. Rembrandt borrows heavily to pay off the debt, and his financial problems continue.
Executes his large drypoint Christ Crucified (“The Three Crosses,” nos. 168, 169).
1654
Hendrickje denied communion by the Reformed Church Council when found to be pregnant with Rembrandt’s child.
Cornelia born out of wedlock to Hendrickje. She is Rembrandt’s only daughter to survive infancy.
1655
Radically transforms his large drypoint Christ Presented to the People (nos. 173, 174).
Geertje Dircx is released from the Spinning House.
Rembrandt auctions art from his collection and perhaps his own work as well. The results are unknown.
Attempts to buy a smaller house, but the deal falls through.
1656
Transfers ownership of his house to Titus.
Applies for and receives a declaration of bankruptcy.
Inventory made of his possessions not sold the previous year. This listing reveals him to have been a voracious collector of works of art, weapons, and curios both natural and man-made.
1656–58
Rembrandt’s possessions sold in a series of six auctions yielding a disappointing 5,044 guilders, 4 stuivers.
about 1658
Moves (with Hendrickje, Titus, and Cornelia) to a much smaller rented house on the Rozengracht, in the Jordaan section of Amsterdam, where he lives for the rest of his life.
1658
Titus’s ownership of the house voided. The Chamber of Insolvent Estates auctions the house for 13,600 guilders, but the buyer does not pay.
Hendrickje and Titus begin to act as Rembrandt’s employers and sell his work.
1659
Rembrandt makes his last religious print, Peter and John at the Gate of the Temple (no. 180).
about 1659
The house re-auctioned for 12,000 guilders, but again the buyer does not pay.
Arent (or Aert) de Gelder (1645–1727) becomes one of Rembrandt’s last pupils.
1660
Hendrickje and Titus formalize their art-dealing partnership, thus relieving Rembrandt of all financial responsibility.
about 1660
The house auctioned a third time. The buyers pay 11,218 guilders.
1661
Rembrandt makes his last print of a nude, The Woman with the Arrow (no. 201).
about 1661
Begins to paint The Conspiracy of the Batavians under Claudius Civilis, a large-scale mural canvas for the new Amsterdam Town Hall.
1662
The Conspiracy of the Batavians under Claudius Civilis is returned to Rembrandt from the Town Hall. Paintings by his students Govert Flinck and Ferdinand Bol figure prominently in the final decorative scheme.
Paints The Syndics of the Drapers’ Guild of Amsterdam.
Receives major commissions for portraits and other works, some from the wealthy Trip family.
Sells Saskia’s grave.
1663
Hendrickje dies (probably a victim of the plague) and is buried in a rented grave in the Westerkerk.
1665
Rembrandt makes his last print, a commissioned posthumous portrait of the physician Johannes Antonides van der Linden (fig. 74). The publisher rejects the plate as not suitable for extended printing.
1666
Rembrandt gives Titus full power of attorney.
1667
Florentine duke Cosimo de’Medici (1642–1723) visits Rembrandt.
1668
Titus marries and dies seven months later. He is buried in the Westerkerk.
1669
Titus’s daughter Titia born.
Rembrandt paints three self-portraits.
Rembrandt dies on October 4th and is buried four days later in a rented grave in the Westerkerk.