Rembrandt Van Rijn
... It was into this world that Rembrandt was born, and was one of the world’s most famous artists. Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn was born on July 15, 1606 in the Netherlands, where he grew up in Leiden. Rembrandt was one of nine children born to Harmen Gerritszoon van Rijn and Neeitje Willemsdochter van Suydbroeck. ... Rembrandt first started attending a Latin school, but at the age of fourteen in 1620 he was enrolled at the University of Leiden. Even though he was considered a student at the University, Rembrandt never attended any of the lectures. ... Rembrandt first studies art with Jacob van Swanenburch, a local master. ... In 1624, Rembrandt opened his own studio in Leiden, where he worked closely with Jan Lievens, one of his friends. Rembrandt then studied with Pieter Lastman for six months in Amsterdam in 1625. After Rembrandt learned everything Lastman could teach him, he returned to Leiden in 1626 where he started to make etchings. Later in 1628, Rembrandt took on his first pupils, one of them being Gerrie Dou. On June 22, 1634, Rembrandt married Saskia van Uylenburgh, the niece of Hendrick van Uylenburgh, an art dealer he met in Amsterdam in 1631. Hendrick helped Rembrandt meet wealthy patrons who paid him to paint portraits for them. Also during this time, Rembrandt’s religious and mythological pieces were in demand. Rembrandt’s art began doing well, and he and Saskia had four children, but only their son, Titus, survived. During the years of 1635 to 1641, when they lost three of their children, Rembrandt and Saskia moved to a couple of different locations.