Who was Rembrandt van Rijn
Time line
1568-1648
Eighty Years War between the Northern Netherlands and Spain.
1602
Foundation of the United Dutch East India Company, a trading organisation set up by Dutch cities. The ships of the East India Company sail to Asian countries, to buy spices, porcelain, precious cloth and other goods.
1606
On 15 July, Rembrandt is born in Leiden as the ninth child of Harmen Gerritszoon van Rijn and Neeltje Willemsdochter van Suydbroeck.
1609-1621
Peace in the Eighty Years War: the Twelve Year Truce.
1613-1620
Rembrandt attends the Latin School in Leiden.
1620
Rembrandt is registered at the University of Leiden, but doesn't take any courses there.
1620-1623
Rembrandt is apprenticed to the Leiden painter, Jacob van Swanenburgh.
1621
Foundation of the West India Company, an organisation which trades with different places in North and South America and East Africa.
1624
Rembrandt has his own studio in Leiden. He works closely with his friend Jan Lievens.
1625
Rembrandt is apprenticed for six months to the painter Pieter Lastman in Amsterdam.
1626
Rembrandt is again active in Leiden. As well as drawings and paintings he also makes etchings.
1628
Rembrandt receives his first students. Constantijn Huygens, Secretary to the Stadhouder, Frederik Hendrik, visits Rembrandt and Lieven's studio and is amazed by their work.
1631
Rembrandt comes into contact with the Amsterdam art dealer Hendrick van Uylenburgh. He spends more and more time in Amsterdam.
1632
Rembrandt paints his first group portrait: The anatomy lesson of Dr Tulp.
1632-1646
Rembrandt paints a series of pictures of the Passion of Christ for the Stadhouder, Frederik Hendrik.
1634
On 22 June, Rembrandt marries Saskia van Uylenburgh, a niece of Hendrick van Uylenburgh.
1635
Rembrandt and Saskia rent a house in the Nieuwe Doelenstraat, Amsterdam. Their first son, Rombartus, dies after only 12 months.
1637
Rembrandt and Saskia move to the Suyckerbackerij house on the Binnen-Amstel in Amsterdam.
1638
Birth of a daughter, Cornelija, who survives less than a month.
1639
Rembrandt buys a house on the Breestraat in Amsterdam for 13,000 florins. The street is nowadays called the Jodenbreestraat and the house is now the Rembrandt House Museum. He is commissioned to paint The Night Watch.
1640
A second daughter, also called Cornelija, only survives for a couple of weeks.
1641
The birth of a son, Titus, in September.
1642
Rembrandt completes The Night Watch. Saskia falls ill and dies on 14 June, aged 29. She is buried at the Oude Kerk. Geertje Dircx moves in to look after Titus. Rembrandt starts a relationship with her, which ends in a dispute.
1647
Hendrickje Stoffels moves in with Rembrandt as his maidservant. She becomes Rembrandt's new lover.
1648
Peace with Spain. A new town hall is built on the Dam in Amsterdam.
1650
Rembrandt has Geertje Dircx committed to an institution in Gouda.
1652-1654
First Anglo-Dutch War.
1653
The plague rages in Amsterdam. Rembrandt falls heavily into debt to pay off his house.
1654
Rembrandt and Hendrickje have a daughter. She is called Cornelia.
1655
Completion of the new Amsterdam Town Hall on the Dam.
1656
Rembrandt is unable to pay off his debts. The Dutch Supreme Court declares him bankrupt. An inventory is made of his possessions by an officer from the Desolate Boedelskamer.
1656-1658
Rembrandt's house and possessions are sold.
1660
Rembrandt, Hendrickje, Titus and Cornelia live in a rented house on the Rozengracht in Amsterdam, where Hendrickje and Titus set up an art gallery.
1661
Rembrandt creates a large painting for the new Amsterdam Town Hall: the Conspiracy of Julius Civilis. The city fathers do not wish to display the picture and return it to Rembrandt.
1662
Rembrandt paints The Steel Masters.
1663
The plague rages again in Amsterdam. Hendrickje dies and is buried at the Westerkerk.
1665
Rembrandt makes his last etching, a portait of the doctor Jan Antonides van der Linden.
1665-1667
Second Anglo-Dutch War.
1666
Rembrandt paints The Jewish Bride.
1668
On 28 February, Titus marries Magdalena van Loo. He dies two months later and is buried at the Westerkerk.
1669
Magdalena van Loo has a daughter, Titia. Rembrandt paints two more self-portraits. He dies on 4 October and is buried at the Westerkerk.