Rembrandt 350: a commemoration of his life and work, 1606-1669

1. Rembrandt’s Early Life and Training. The Importance of Pieter Lastman

The lecture will review the political, economic and artistic situation in the Northern Netherlands as a whole at the time of Rembrandt’s birth and early life in Leiden. We will assess the impact of his six months’ training with Lastman in Amsterdam and will consider his early work as an independent artist during the time he shared a studio with Jan Lievens in Leiden.

2. Rembrandt’s Arrival in Amsterdam and Early Work as a Painter of Portraits

The session will discuss Rembrandt’s arrival in Amsterdam in 1631 and his establishment as a leading painter of portraits during the 1630s, through his business arrangement with the art dealer and entrepreneur, van Uylenburgh and his marriage to Saskia, Uylenburgh’s niece.

3. Rembrandt’s Maturity as a Painter and Etcher

The decade of the 1640s began with both success and sadness following Rembrandt’s purchase of his expensive double-fronted house, the birth of a son, Titus, and the death of Saskia.  Rembrandt’s desire to be a history painter competed with his portrait commissions and increasing development of his graphic work.

4. The Decade of the 1650s: Bankruptcy and Family Upheaval

This period of great upheaval in Rembrandt’s life and career will be analysed in the light of recent research, undertaken in recent decades by The Rembrandt Research Project and recent worldwide exhibitions, including the forthcoming exhibition at Dulwich this autumn.

5. Rembrandt’s Late Work

In this session consideration will be given to Rembrandt’s late work, his drawings, his etchings and his late portraits and history paintings.