Rembrandt van Rijn: Chronology

CHRONOLOGY

1589
Rembrandt's parents marry in the reformed Pieterskerk in Leiden. Rembrandt's fater, Gerritsz van Rijn (the river Rijn)was the only member of his family who converted from Catholicism to Protestantism (after 1630). Rembrandt's mother, Neeltgen Willemsdr. van Zuytbrouck, was the daughter of a baker (after 1640). Rembrandt's parents had 10 children , two died in infancy. Rembrandt was the 8th child. In 1640, 4 children were still living: a shoemaker, a baker, Rembrandt, and a daughter.
1606, July 15
Rembrandt is born.
c. 1613-1615
Rembrandt van Rijn attends the Latin School to prepare for admission to Leiden University.
1620, May 16
Enrolls in the University (2 months before his 14th birthday). Already attending Latin school. The school trained their students in grammar and rhetoric. Lessons were based on classical literature. Rembrandt received a thorough grounding in classical and biblical stories. In 1625 the States of Holland standardized the curriculum. Possibly, there were political reasons for not pursuing an academic career; there are other reasons as well, such as obtaining student privileges, freedom from civic guard duties and a specified allowance of tax-free wine and beer.
1619
Rembrandt is apprenticed to Jacob Isaacszoon van Swanenburgh (1571-1638). Van Swanenburgh was a Catholic, his father was burgomaster 5 times and held other major town offices. The rest of the family was Remonstrant. They were removed from civil office by prince Maurits in 1618. Swanenburgh had been in Italy from about 1600 to 1617.
1600-1617
Van Swanenburgh painted in Venice, Rome and Naples. He married a Neapolitan woman. A few fantasies have been preserved but none of his portraits and cityscapes. There are no discernible traces of his influences in Rembrandt's oeuvre. That Rembrandt studied with Van Swanenburgh is known from a biography written by the Leiden burgomaster in the 2nd edition of his description of Leiden. Rembrandt studied with him for about 3 years.
1622
A document of 18 October 1622 shows that Rembrandt is still living with his parents in Leiden's Weddesteeg, together with his brothers and sisters Gerrit, Machtelt, Cornelis and Lysbeth. His brothers Willem and Adriaen have left home.
1624-25
Rembrandt spends 6 months with Pieter Lastman in Amsterdam. According to Houbraken, Rembrandt also studied with Jan Pynas. History, rhetorical gestures, historical veracity, textual accuracy were important lessons in their studios.
1625-1631
Rembrandt sets up as an independent painter in Leiden, living at home with his parents. The Stoning of Stepen is Rembrandt's earliest dated painting. In this picture, as well as in other undated history paintings from his early career, Rembrandt gives a spectator his own features. Rembrandt is regularly mentioned as a painter from this year on. The Utrecht lawyer and humanist Arnold van Buchel (1565-1641) visits Leiden on 10 January, and notes in his diary that a miller's son is causing a sensation there as an artist, although he finds that a little premature ('sed ante tempus') On 14 February, the 14-year-old Gerrit Dou becomes Rembrandt's first pupil.
1620, May 16
Enrolls in the University (2 months before his 14th birthday). Already attending Latin school. The school trained their students in grammar and rhetoric. Lessons were based on classical literature. Rembrandt received a thorough grounding in classical and biblical stories. In 1625 the States of Holland standardized the curriculum. Possibly, there were political reasons for not pursuing an academic career; there are other reasons as well, such as obtaining student privileges, freedom from civic guard duties and a specified allowance of tax-free wine and beer.
1619-162
Rembrandt is apprenticed to Jacob Isaacszoon van Swanenburgh (1571-1638). Van Swanenburgh was a Catholic, his father was burgomaster 5 times and held other major town offices. The rest of the family was Remonstrant. They were removed from civil office by prince Maurits in 1618. Swanenburgh had been in Italy from about 1600 to 1617.
1600-1617
Van Swanenburgh painted in Venice, Rome and Naples. He married a Neapolitan woman. A few fantasies have been preserved but none of his portraits and cityscapes. There are no discernible traces of his influences in Rembrandt's oeuvre. That Rembrandt studied with Van Swanenburgh is known from a biography written by the Leiden burgomaster in the 2nd edition of his description of Leiden. Rembrandt studied with him for about 3 years.
1622
A document of 18 October 1622 shows that Rembrandt is still living with his parents in Leiden's Weddesteeg, together with his brothers and sisters Gerrit, Machtelt, Cornelis and Lysbeth. His brothers Willem and Adriaen have left home.
1624-25
Rembrandt spends 6 months with Pieter Lastman in Amsterdam. According to Houbraken, Rembrandt also studied with Jan Pynas. History, rhetorical gestures, historical veracity, textual accuracy were important lessons in their studios.
1625-1631
Rembrandt sets up as an independent painter in Leiden, living at home with his parents. The Stoning of Stepen is Rembrandt's earliest dated painting. In this picture, as well as in other undated history paintings from his early career, Rembrandt gives a spectator his own features.
1628
Rembrandt is regularly mentioned as a painter from this year on. The Utrecht lawyer and humanist Arnold van Buchel (1565-1641) visits Leiden on 10 January, and notes in his diary that a miller's son is causing a sensation there as an artist, although he finds that a little premature ('sed ante tempus') On 14 February, the 14-year-old Gerrit Dou becomes Rembrandt's first pupil. Rembrandt makes two etchings of an old woman, probably his mother, as well as several undated self portraits.
1629
Rembrandt completes a painted self portrait his earliest dated picture of himself. The same year he signs and dates an etched self portrait. After his stay in the northern Netherlands in this year, Ambassador Sir Robert Kerr (1578-1654), later the first Earl of Ancrum, gives several paintings to King Charles I, among them 'the picture done by Rembrant, being his own picture & done by himself'. An Amsterdam inventory of 19 October lists a painting (no longer identifiable) as 'a small tronie (head) by Rembrandt'.
1628-1631
Gerrit Dou and Isaac Jouderville work with Rembrandt as his pupils.
1630
Rembrandt completes a painted self portrait his earliest dated picture of himself. The same year he signs and dates an etched self portrait. After his stay in the northern Netherlands in this year, Ambassador Sir Robert Kerr (1578-1654), later the first Earl of Ancrum, gives several paintings to King Charles I, among them 'the picture done by Rembrant, being his own picture & done by himself'. An Amsterdam inventory of 19 October lists a painting (no longer identifiable) as 'a small tronie (head) by Rembrandt'. Constantijn Huygens (1596-1687), secretary to Stadholder Frederick Henry, visits the Leiden studio shared by Rembrandt and Jan Lievens (1607-74), and compares their work. He finds them both brilliant, but too introverted. Not long afterwards, Huygens procures Rembrandt important commissions from the court in The Hague.
1631
Rembrandt commutes to Amsterdam, stays at house of Hendrick Uylenburgh, and uses studio space there for portraits. (Rembrandt lends him 1000 guilders)
1634
Rembrandt marries Saskia Uylenburgh (1612-1642) in Friesland. She is the cousin of Rembrandt's landlord and the daughter of the late burgomaster of Leeuwarden. They live in the house of H. Uylenburgh. Rembrandt becomes an Amsterdam citizen and joins the local St Luke's guild.
1635
Rembrandt moves into his own quarters.
1639
Moves again in 1637 into the "Rembrandt house" in the Anthonisbreestraat.
1642
Saskia dies; Rembrandt employs Geertje Dircks as nanny for son Titus, born 1641. (4 children, 3 died) Rembrandt begins relationship with Geertje Dircks, the trumpeter's widow.
1647
Hendrickje Stoffels joins household as maidservant.
1649
Rembrandt and Dircks have problems, breach of promise, Rembrandt ordered to pay maintenance allowance of 200 guilders
1650
Rembrandt has Dircks detained in the Gouda house of correction
1654
Birth of illegitimate daughter, Cornelia [with H. Stoffels]
1656
Rembrandt transfers his house to his son Titus in order to save his inheritance. The liquidaton of Rembrandt's property. Inventory of goods taken. Rembrandt couldn't remarry because he would risk losing income from Saskia's estate. (Reason given was "losses in business as well as damage and losses at sea." Explained variously. 1) he invested in cargo that was lost at sea, 2) his pictures were lost at sea.
1658
Rembrandt leaves St. Anthonisbreestraat, moves to the Rozengracht area. Many other artists living in that area. In May, Rembrandt, Hendrickje, Titus and Cornelia move to a rented house in Rozengracht (now no. 184) in the Jordaan district of Amsterdam, opposite the Nieuwe Doolhof (the maze). Rembrandt paints himself seated in state like a monarch. In an etched self portrait of 1658 we see the artist at work as an etcher. It is his last self portrait in this medium.
1660
On 15 December, Hendrickje and Titus transfer the company and trade in paintings, graphic art, engravings and woodcuts'to their names, thus relieving Rembrandt of all financial control. He can continue to paint, but must leave business matters to them. Titus becomes universal heir. A document drawn up on 20 0ctober calls Hendrickje 'the wife of Mr. Rembrandt van Rijn, art painter', although they have not married. The biographer Cornelis de Bie (1627-after 1711) praises not only Rembrandt's paintings 'which enlighten every mind', but also his etchings:'It is the very soul of life that lives therein'. Rembrandt paints himself as the apostle Paul.
1662
He paints The Sampling Officials of the Amsterdam Drapers'Guild (Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum), and receives major commissions for portraits and other works, some from the extremely wealthy Trip family. 1663. Hendrickje Stoffels dies and is buried in a rented grave in Amsterdam's Westerkerkon July 24, probably a victim of the plague.
1664
The painter Christiaen Dusart (1618-82) is appointed guardian of Cornelia van Rijn on 21 July. Her father, Rembrandt, is described as 'hale and hearty, 'in full use of his mind, memory and speech'. The learned Swiss monk, Gabriel Bucelimis (1599-1681), notes in his diary that Rembrandt is 'the miracle of our age (Rimprant, nostrae aetatis miraculum)'.
1665
Titus comes of age. Titus van Rijn proudly declares to a Leiden notary on march 21: 'Yes, my father cuts (etches) very skillfully.' On 19 June, Titus van Rijn applies for and is awarded veniam aetatis (legal maturity).
1667
On 29 December, Cosmic, de'Medici (1642-1723) calls on Rembrandt, who is described as 'pittore famoso (famous painter)' in his travel journal. It later transpires that the Italian Grand Duke owns one of the painter's self portraits.
1668
Titus marries Magdalena van Loo, daughter of a silversmith, but Titus dies soon after, buried in the Westerkerk in Amstedam. Rembrandt is living with Cornelia, Hendrickje's daughter
1669, March 22
Titia van Rijn, Rembrandt's granddaughter and goddaughter, is baptised in the Nieuwezijds Chapel on 22 March, six months after the death of her father Titus. Rembrandt paints three self portraits in the last year of his life. On 2 October, Rembrandt is visited by the amateur genealogist Pieter van Brederode (1631-97), who makes a record of antiquities and curios in his collection. Rembrandt's granddaughter is baptized. October 4, Rembrandt dies and is buried in the Westerkerk in an unknown rented grave.