Personal Tragedy Throughout Rembrandt’s Life

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn more famously referred to as Rembrandt, was a painter during the Dutch Golden Age. Many think of him as the best visual artist in Art History; Rembrandt had a diverse range of subject matter he painted; he did landscapes, mythological, historical, and biblical scenes, and more famously, portraits. His work was so profound that it created new genres of art.

Not only did Rembrandt paint masterpieces, but he was also a collector and dealer of art; he had a high reputation and even mentored other young artists for many years. He would also create autobiographies through his self-portraits to understand his character better.

Unfortunately, Rembrandt experienced many tragedies throughout his life, mostly involving the loss of a loved one. Yet, he still managed to produce paintings during the most grueling periods of his life.

Early Life

Rembrandt van Rijn (1606) was born in the Netherlands to financially stable parents. He attended university for a time until he realized his passion for art. He then started his apprenticeship with various artists for four years.

Unlike other artists, Rembrandt van Rijn did not leave the Netherlands to pursue a career in other parts of Europe, like Italy, which attracted many of his contemporaries. Instead, at age nineteen, Rembrandt opened his workshop and began teaching other artists.

Rise to Fame

In 1629, several years after opening his workshop, Rembrandt painted Judas Returning the Thirty Pieces of Silver. One of his earliest works displayed his keen interest in Biblical scenes. In the painting, Judas kneels before the Jewish leaders after returning the silver; he is full of remorse for his deceit.

This painting is a remarkable example of how Rembrandt expressed the individual emotions of the figures in his paintings.

This caught the eye of a Dutch Lord who was secretary to Prince Frederick Henry and later made Rembrandt an acquaintance to the prince, who continued to purchase Rembrandt’s artworks for many years.

A Life of Tragedy

In 1634, Rembrandt married Saskia van Uylenburgh, who became a subject for many of Rembrandt van Rijn paintings and etchings. Within a year after Rembrandt and Saskia got married, Rembrandt painted three portraits of her, demonstrating his love and affection for her as his wife.

One such painting is knowns as Saskia van Uylenburgh in Arcadian Costume, in which Saskia is dressed as Flora, the goddess of spring in this portrait. She is holding flowers and wearing flowers on her forehead and neck. This portrait is especially moving because of the warm smile, perhaps from being newly wedded to the most famous Dutch Painter of their time.

In 1635, Rembrandt and Saskia had a son, Rumbartus, who died two months after birth. Three years later, Saskia had a daughter, Cornelia, who died three weeks after her birth. Another two years passed until Saskia gave birth to their second daughter, also named Cornelia, who died a month after her birth. Finally, their son, Titus, was born a year after Cornelia’s death, and he survived into adulthood. However, a year after his birth, Saskia fell ill with tuberculosis and died.

Shortly after Rembrandt and Saskia got married, he painted the portrait Saskia in the Red Hat but only completed it in 1642 after her death. Saskia is adorned in a beautiful red dress and hat in the painting. She is young and healthy in appearance. This artwork could have been Rembrandt’s attempt to preserve her memory with one last portrait. Unfortunately, suffering immense grief, Rembrandt did not paint anything for a time after her death.

Losing Financial Security

After some years had passed, Rembrandt married Hendrickje Stoffels under common law; Hendrickje had previously been his maid. Rembrandt began to live beyond his means and had to sell most of his art collection and antiquities to avoid the imminent risk of bankruptcy. Later, he had to sell his house and his printing press.

Possible reasons behind the artist’s failing financial security include the house he bought in an upmarket neighborhood when he and Saskia were still newlyweds and some poor investments he made. His frivolous spending on art and prints could have also contributed.

More Loss

In 1660, Rembrandt painted a portrait of his son, Titus, who had become a monk. The painting depicts 19-year-old Titus in his monk uniform with a mild and serene expression. The act of painting his son as a monk shows that he approved of his son’s life choices; despite them being different from his own, he was proud of Titus.

In 1663, Hendrickje died, followed by Titus’ death at only 27 years old, leaving Rembrandt with his youngest daughter, Cornelia. Rembrandt died a year later and was buried in an unknown grave owned by the church.

The Bottom Line

Some of Rembrandt van Rijn’s paintings were reflections of what he was experiencing in his life at the time. Despite an unspeakable amount of tragedy, he gifted the world with masterpieces that would alter the future of art. Even today, Rembrandt’s art fascinates and entertains those who view it.