Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn was born on July 15, 1606 in Leiden, Holland, a short distance from Amsterdam. He was the eighth of nine children. Rembrandt's father, Harman Gerritszoon van Rijn, was a miller and his mother, Neeltje Willemsdochter van Suytbroeck, was the daughter of a baker.  At the young age of seven, Rembrandt's parents enrolled him at the Latin School in Leiden to prepare him for a learned profession. Rembrandt studied religion and learned the Latin version of his name, "Rembrandus Harmensis Leidensis".  During this time, he adopted the monogram "RHL" that he later used to sign his early works of art, including his copper etching plates of “Bust of Man Wearing High Cap” and “Artist’s Mother With Hand on Her Chest.”   

 Following his graduation, Rembrandt matriculated to the University of Leiden in 1620, but left a short time later to study his real love – drawing, etching and painting.  Rembrandt began his art studies under the tutelage of Jacob van Swanenburgh.  In 1624, Rembrandt moved to Amsterdam to study with Pieter Lastman, one of the most famous artists in Holland at the time.  Lastman introduced Rembrandt to the outstanding style of Caravaggio - power, naturalism and magical depths created by light and shadow.   Caravaggio’s dramatic and powerful style, as well as the extraordinary work of Peter Paul Rubens, had a profound impact on Rembrandt’s art.  Around 1625, Rembrandt returned to his hometown of Leiden at the age of nineteen, and began making a living teaching other students and creating commissioned portraits and paintings for wealthy patrons.

  In 1634, Rembrandt married Saskia van Uylenburgh, the young first cousin of a successful art dealer.  Although Rembrandt experienced some initial financial success, his life was filled with tragedy and misfortune.  Between 1635 and 1641, Saskia gave birth to four children, only one of whom survived, a son, Titus. This tragedy was compounded when Saskia died in 1642 while Titus was still a baby.

 Following her death, Saskia's inheritance was divided between Titus and Rembrandt. Rembrandt, who was known for his lavish lifestyle, reportedly spent the greater portion of Titus' share. To care for Titus, Rembrandt hired a nursemaid, Geertje Dircx, who became Rembrandt’s mistress.  Following a dispute between Rembrandt and Geertje that culminated in a court battle, Rembrandt began a relationship with Hendrickje Stoffels, who was twenty years younger than Rembrandt.

 Over the years, Hendrickje became Rembrandt's devoted companion.  Although Rembrandt and Hendrickje never married, they had two children. Their first child died in infancy.  Rembrandt named their second child, a daughter, Cornelia, in memory of his two daughters with Saskia who had not survived.  Because Rembrandt and Hendrickje never married, Hendrickje was summoned before the Dutch Reformed Church in 1654 and punished for her relationship with Rembrandt.  She remained devoted to Rembrandt until her death at age 37 in 1663.

 Rembrandt's penchant for ostentatious living eventually led him to financial ruin. His insatiable desire to acquire art and poor management of his financial affairs, coupled with an economic depression in Holland in the early 1650’s, forced him to declare bankruptcy in 1656.  A large portion of his collection of art and antiques was auctioned to pay his debts in 1658.  Fortunately, Rembrandt’s copper etching plates were not included in the inventory of his possessions sold at auction.  Rembrandt's home was sold at auction and he was left homeless.  He was forced to move with Titus, Hendrickje and little Cornelia to a modest cottage outside of Amsterdam.

  Rembrandt was unable to recover his fortune.  In 1658, when Titus was 17, Titus and Hendrickje began an art business and employed Rembrandt. In 1663, tragedy again struck and Titus died. Rembrandt was heartbroken and died six years later on October 4, 1669, at the age of 63. He is buried near his home in Amsterdam .

TIMELINE OF WORLD EVENTS DURING REMBRANDT’S LIFETIME  

1606 Rembrandt is born in Leiden, Holland.
Shakespeare writes “Anthony and Cleopatra.”
1607 Jamestown is founded, the first English settlement in America.
1609 Holland’s independence from Spain is recognized by The Twelve Years Truce.
1610 Galileo observes Jupiter’s moons.
1611 Shakespeare writes “The Tempest.”
1614 Pocahontas marries John Rolfe.
1620       Rembrandt attends the University of Leiden.
The Mayflower carrying Pilgrims from Plymouth, England lands in America at Plymouth Rock.
1624 Rembrandt begins his studies with Pieter Lastman in Leiden.
1628 The Taj Majal is built in Agra, India.
1630 Rembrandt completes his masterful etching “The Raising of Lazarus, the Larger Plate”, and paints “The  Raising of Lazarus”.
Rembrandt completes his etching of his father entitled “Bust of Man Wearing High Cap”.
Rembrandt’s father dies in Leiden.
1631 Rembrandt moves to Amsterdam, and completes his etching entitled “Artist’s Mother With Her Hand on Her Chest”.
The Dutch West India Company founds a settlement on the Delaware River.
1632 Rembrandt paints “The Anatomy Lesson of Professor Tulp”.
1634 Rembrandt marries Saskia van Uylenburgh.
Rembrandt completes his etching entitled “Christ and the Woman of Samaria; Among Ruins”.
Rembrandt’s first child is born, and dies after two months.
1636 Rembrandt paints “The Blinding of Samson”.
Harvard College is founded in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
1639 The first printing press in North America is made in Boston.
1640 Rembrandt’s mother dies in Leiden.
Saskia gives birth to Titus, the only child of Rembrandt and Saskia to live to adulthood.
1641 Rembrandt completes his etching “The Card Player.”
Saskia dies after a long illness.
1642 Rembrandt paints ‘The Night Watch”.
Isaac Newton is born.
1643 Toricelli invents the barometer.
1644 The Ming Dynasty ends in China.
1648 Rembrandt completes his etching “Self Portrait, Drawing At A Window”.
1649 Hendrickje Stoffells becomes part of Rembrandt’s household, and replaces Geertje Dircx, who had been Rembrandt’s housekeeper and mistress since shortly after Saskia’s death.
1650 Rembrandt completes his etching “Landscape With Cow.”  
World population estimated at 500 million.
1651 Dutch settle at the Cape of Good Hope.  
Thomas Hobbes writes “Leviathan.”  
1653 Rembrandt paints “Aristotle Contemplating The Bust of Homer.”  
1654 Rembrandt completes his etching “The Golf Player.”  
Hendricke gives birth to Cornelia, Rembrandt’s only child that survived him.  
Treaty of Westminster ends the Anglo-Dutch war.  
1656 Rembrandt declares bankruptcy, and an inventory of his possessions is compiled.  
1658 Rembrandt’s house and possessions are sold at auction, but not Rembrandt’s copper etching plates.
First stockings and fountain pens are manufactured in Paris.
1662 Hendrickje dies.  
Rembrandt paints “The Portrait of the Syndics of the Clothmakers’ Guild.”   
Louis XIV begins to build the palace of Versailles.  
1665 Bernini finishes high altar at St. Peter’s in Rome.
1668 Titus marries in February and dies in September.  
Rembrandt paints “The Return of the Prodigal Son.”  
1669  Rembrandt dies on October 4.

Home