RM24023 – The women in Rembrandt’s life Listen to this episode here At least five women played a role in Rembrandt’s life and he had a love affair with three of them. First, with Saskia van Uylenburgh (1612-1642), whom he married. Second, after Saskia’s death, with Geertje Dircx (approx. 1610-1656) who was nanny to his son Titus. This relationship soon… Read More »RM24023 – The women in Rembrandt’s life
Listen to this episode here 1 Introduction From 1631 onwards, Rembrandt (1606-1669) led a turbulent life in Amsterdam that would span a period of thirty years. He reached the top of his professional field, producing many portraits and of course the famous Night Watch in 1642. But by the 1650s, he was facing financial problems. He and his life companion… Read More »RM 24022 – The last years of Rembrandt’s professional life
Listen to this episode here 1 Introduction In a recent 2024 publication, Volker Manuth and Marieke de Winkel summarized a much larger earlier book of all Rembrandt’s paitings. The booklet is called: ‘Rembrandt. The Complete Self-portraits’. In this episode I will discuss these self-portraits and more specifically Rembrandt’s impressive self-portrait of 1658. Rembrandt was 52 years old when he… Read More »RM24021 – Rembrandt’s self-portrait of 1658
Listen to this episode here One of the reasons I decided to study Rembrandt, the artist-entrepreneur, was that I learnt he had gone ‘bankrupt’ in 1656. This would have brought him into contact with the legal system that existed at that time. During my research, I also discovered that he was a rather stubborn man who had got himeself into… Read More »RM24020 – A headstrong artist
Listen to this episode here If I say ‘The Night Watch’, most Dutch people can immediately conjure up an image of this famous painting. What’s more – they think about it with not only a sense of admiration, but also national pride. As I said in earlier podcasts of this series, citing the words of sociologist Paul Schnabel: ‘It has… Read More »RM24019 The Night Watch – The Icon Painting
If I say ‘The Night Watch’, most Dutch people can immediately conjure up an image of this famous painting. What’s more – they think about it with not only a sense of admiration, but also national pride. Although the original Dutch title of the painting is much longer, it is now known as the ‘Nachtwacht’. By the way, we only… Read More »RM24018 The Night Watch – The commission
Query In my podcast RM24011 about Rembrandt’s insolvency, I also discussed which assets where incuded in the well-known inventory-list. It was made up during a two-day period, on 25 and 26 July 1656, by Frans Bruijningh, the secretary of the Chamber of Abandoned and Insolvent Estates. In several publicatons the full list can be found. I took a look at… Read More »RM24017 – Where is Rembrandt’s Etching Press
Listen to this episode here Dutch East India Company (Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie, VOC) Between 1568 and 1648 the seven provinces of the Dutch Republic were at war with Spain. In 1621, a Twelve Years’ Truce ended without the need to extend it. Hostilities between the Republic and Spain resumed. During that period, international trade continued to flourish. The Dutch commercial… Read More »RM24016 – Rembrandt, the draftsman – Hansken
Listen to this episode here 1 Sources of income The other day I told you that Rembrandt’s main sources of income were three of a kind: (i) commissions (assignments) for paintings, (ii) selling etches, and (ii) fees for teaching students. See the related podcast Rembrandts Money (available via www.rembrandtsmoney.com, under podcast 24014, ‘Studying with Rembrandt’). In it, I gave… Read More »RM24015 – Rembrandt’s pupils from Dordrecht
Listen to this episode here 1 Sources of income Rembrandt had three main sources of income: commissions for paintings, selling etches and fees from teaching pupils. We are most familiar with his paintings and etchings, commissioned by patrons or produced for the commercial market, or simply for private use. Much less is known about Rembrandt’s pupils and how he… Read More »RM24014 – Studying with Rembrandt