International Art Treasures Web Magazine

June 2005

Rembrandt House Museum

Self Portrait, Etching and drypoint, 1639 by Rembrandt van Rijn
Title: Self-Portrait, 1639
Artist: Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn (Dutch 1606-1669)
Medium: Etching and Drypoint
Permanent Collection: Rembrandt House Museum, Amsterdam
Image Courtesy: Holland Tourism

Rembrandt purchased a house fit for the foremost Dutch artist of his era and beyond and he lived their with his beloved wife, Saskia, from 1639. The house has been turned into a museum delving into the maestro's life. The Rembrandt House Museum will be the center of activities as Holland celebrates the 400th anniversary of the artist's birth in 2006.

Rembrandthuis

Voorhuisj Rembrandt House Museum
Title: Entrance Hall Rembrandt House
Image Courtesy: Rembrandt House Museum & Holland Tourism

The entrance room or parlor is where the artist would meet his guests. Decorations include the artist's own works and those of others. At the time they would have been available for purchase. Unfortunately for all subsequent visitors none of these works are on offer.

Etch Demonstration Rembrandt House Museum
Title: Ets Demonstratie / Etching Demonstration
Image Courtesy: Rembrandt House Museum & Holland Tourism

The Museum is set as one would have found it should they have been lucky enough to be a guest of the Dutch Master.

Room with Easel, Rembrandt House Museum
Title: Studio with Easel
Image Courtesy: Rembrandt House Museum & Holland Tourism

Kunst Caemermappen Rembrandt House Museum
Title: Art Cabinet
Image Courtesy: Rembrandt House Museum & Holland Tourism

One of Rembrandt's most precious possessions were his albums that he used to store his print and drawing collection that consisted of 4000 of the former and 3500 of the latter. The Art Cabinet was a source of inspiration, with the many objects he collected, such as coral, Venetian Glass, globes and casts of classical sculpture, a traditional way to learn from early artists.

Bedroom, Rembrandt House Museum
Title: Living Room and Bedroom
Image Courtesy: Rembrandt House Museum & Holland Tourism

During the Seventeenth Century in Holland it was traditional for the living room and bed to be found in the main Salon.

Kitchen at Rembrandt House Museum Amsterdam
Title: Kitchen
Image Courtesy: Rembrandt House Museum & Holland Tourism

The Kitchen would have been comfortable and was where the household cooked and ate. Through one of the doors is the entrance to the courtyard, where is it believed Rembrandt worked, beneath a shelter or lean-to, on The Night Watch.

Rembrandt House Museum Amsterdam, Exterior
Title: Exterior of Rembrandt House Museum / RembrandtHuis
Image Courtesy: Rembrandt House Museum & Holland Tourism

Sadly, Rembrandt's life in these years while productive was touched by tragedy, his beloved wife Saskia died in 1642. Of their four children only one survived infancy, Titus, who would pass on the year prior to Rembrandt's own death in 1669.

Rembrandt 400 in 2006

Amsterdam will honor the 400th anniversary of the birth of Rembrandt in 2006. Many activities are scheduled for visitors to enjoy in the capital city of the Netherlands, and in Leiden. Naturally, the house in which the artist lived and worked, has some fantastic exhibits planned.

Rembrandt The Quest of a Genius
1 April - 2 July 2006

Suzanna and the Elders, 1647 by Rembrandt van Rijn
Title: Suzanna and the Elders, 1647
Artist: Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch 1606-1669)
On Loan from the Staatlichte Museen in Berlin, Germany
Image Courtesy: Rembrandt House Museum / Rembrandthuis, Amsterdam

The Quest of a Genius is scheduled to be one of the most significant events during the year long celebration. This exhibit focuses on the innovative master and his contribution to the art world. Over 100 paintings, drawings and prints will be available to look at the creative genius and also to focus on him as the leader of his notoriously productive workshop.

Woman in Bed, 1644 by Rembrandt van Rijn
Title: Woman in Bed, 1644
Artist: Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch 1606-1669)
On Loan from the National Galley of Scotland in Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Image Courtesy: Rembrandt House Museum / Rembrandthuis, Amsterdam

The exhibit will focus on the years that Rembrandt lived and worked in the Rembrandt House, his productive period from 1639 to 1658, during which the masterpieces he created included the magnificent Night Watch or The Militia Company of Captain Frans Banning Cocq and Lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburch.

Particular interest, in the Quest of a Genius exhibit will be the recreation of the artist's laboratory. Done in an attempt to understand the brilliance of Rembrandt.

Self Portrait, 1643 by Rembrandt van Rijn
Title: Self-Portrait, 1643
Artist: Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch 1606-1669)
On Loan from Mueso Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid, Spain
Image Courtesy: Rembrandt House Museum

Uylenburgh & Son.
Art and Commerce in Rembrandt's Time
14 September - 10 December 2006

Portrait of Agatha Bas by Rembrandt van Rijn
Title: Portrait of Agatha Bas, 1641
Artist: Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch 1606-1669)
On Loan from the Royal Collection,
London, United Kingdom
Image Courtesy: Rembrandt House Museum / Rembrandthuis, Amsterdam

Rembrandt married Saskia van Uylenburgh, cousin of the art dealer Hendrick Uylenburgh, for whom Rembrandt worked. It was through Uylenburgh's sponsorship that the artist became the unparalleled portraitist of his day throughout Holland.

The theme is based on the works that came into Uylenburgh's hands during 1625 to 1675, including Rembrandt, Anthony van Dyck, Govert Flinck and Gerard de Lairesse.

Title: Portrait of Aeltje Uylenburgh, 1632
Artist: Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch 1606-1669)
On Loan from the Noortman Master Paintings, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Image Courtesy: Rembrandt House Museum / Rembrandthuis, Amsterdam

Etcher and Draftsman

Self Portrait, 1630, etching and burin by Rembrandt van Rijn
Title: Self-Portrait, 1630
Artist: Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn (Dutch 1606-1669)
Medium: Etching and Burin
Dimensions: 5.1 x 4.6
Permanent Collection: Rembrandt House Museum, Amsterdam
Image Courtesy: Holland Tourism

If being the greatest painter of his era was not praise enough Rembrandt is considered to be the finest etcher and draftsman ever. He could express the beauty of nature which a few quick strokes of his preferred reed pen. His drawings were independent of his portraits, rather than preparations, as this was a much more common use of drawing.

Rembrandt Self Portrait
Title: Self-Portrait, 1630
Artist: Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch 1606-1669)
Medium: Etching
Permanent Collection: Rembrandt House Museum Amsterdam
Image Courtesy: Tourism Holland

Rijksmuseum

Amsterdam's famed Rijksmuseum will be a significant location of events during Rembrandt 400 and time should be allocated to enjoy the many activities planned to celebrate the Dutch genius Rembrandt van Rijn.

Prophetess Saint Hannah, called Rembrandt's Mother by Rembrandt van Rijn
Title: The Prophetess St. Hannah, 1631
Title 2: Rembrandt's Mother
Artist: Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch 1606-1669)
Medium: Oil on Panel
Permanent Collection: The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Image Courtesy: Holland Tourism

Rembrandt House Museum	www.rembrandthuis.nl
Holland Tourism	www.holland.com