Rembrandt van Rijn  (Dutch, 1606-1669) 

Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch, 1606–1669) was a painter and etcher. Known simply as Rembrandt, he is considered to be one of the greatest painters in European art history. Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn was born on July 15, 1606 in Leiden, the Netherlands. At the age of 14, he attended the University of Leiden, but he eventually left school to become an apprentice to painter Jacob van Swanenburgh (Dutch, 1571–1638). Three years later, Rembrandt moved to Amsterdam, where he apprenticed briefly for famed painter Pieter Lastman (Dutch, 1583–1633).

After only six months, the artist returned to Leiden and opened his own art studio with fellow painter Jan Lievens (Dutch, 1607–1674). By 1627, at the age of 21, Rembrandt began accepting students, including Gerrit Dou (Dutch, 1613–1675). In 1634, Rembrandt married Sasika van Uylenburg. Between 1634 and 1641, the couple had four children, three of whom died shortly after birth. Sasika died in 1942, not long after the birth of their fourth child Titus, the only child who survived into adulthood. Rembrandt's drawing of Sasika while she lay sick on her death bed is known as one of his most moving pieces. In the late 1640s, Rembrandt began a relationship with his maid Hendrickje Stoffels. In 1654, the couple had a daughter, Cornelia.

In 1626, Rembrandt produced his first etchings. Then, in 1629, he completed the painting Judas Repentant, Returning the Pieces of Silver and the Artist in His Studio. Many of Rembrandt's paintings depict biblical scenes: The Blinding of Samson (1636), Danae (1636), and Belshazzar's Feast (1635). It wasn't until the late 1630s that Rembrandt began to paint landscapes. During the 1650s and 1660s, his biblical paintings changed from dramatic group scenes to portrait-like figures-such as James and the Apostle (1661). He also painted numerous self-portraits during this time. The best-known collections of Rembrandt's work are at Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum, including Night Watch and The Jewish Bride. Other collections are on display at the Louvre in Paris, France, the National Gallery in London, UK, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, NY. His home in Amsterdam is also preserved and displays numerous samples of his work. Rembrandt died in 1669.