REMBRANDT HERMANSZOON, commonly called REMBRANDT VAN RITTN, was the son of a miller, Herman Gerritsz van Rlivn, whose house (where the painter was born) and mill were situated on an arm of the Rhine at Leyden. Rembrandt Hermanszoon was born either on July 15, 1606, or in 1608. The former date rests on the authority of the Description of Leyden, published in 1641, by Criers, burgomaster of that town, under whose custody, along with other registers of the city, were those of the registers of bap tism, since lost. The latter date rests on the painter's marriage-certificate, lately dis covered, dated June 10, 1634, in which Rembrandt Hermauszoon is stated to be aged 26, and thus the year of his birth 1608. He attended for a short time the Latin school at Leyden; and after studying art three years tinder Jacob van Swanenburg, and for a very limited period tinder Pieter Lastman at Amsterdam, and Jacob Pines at Haarlem, he returned home, and devoted himself to the study of nature. His works now attracted some attention; and about the year 1630 he was ehcouraged to establish himself at Amsterdam, where he soon entered on a most successful career, and executed numer ous works—portraits, landscapes, historical and genre subjects, and those wondrous etchings, numbering above 360, which have served almost as much as his paintings to raise his reputation so high. Rembrandt Hermauszoon holds the chief place in the Dutch school; his power and originality are exemplified in almoSt every branch of art; and as examples of composition, expression, color, and light and shade, his works rank with those of the greatest artists. He had numerous pupils, many of whom, sueb as
Gerard Dow, G. Flinck, F. Bol, N. Maas, P. de Koning, and Vanden Eeckhout, were distinguished artists. Rembrandt Hermanszoon spent his large gains in the indulgence of a taste for works of art, arms, and objects of verta, as is proved by an inventory of his effects, extracted from the registers of the insolvents' court at Amsterdam, for he got into difficulties, partly from his expensive habits, and partly on account of claims by the tutors of his son, after the death of his first wife. He married a second time, and left two children; his son Titus, by his first wife, predeceased him. Many interesting matters connected with the history of this great painter have been brought to light, and published so lately as 1853, by Dr. P. Scheltema, keeper of records at Amsterdam. The date of the painter's decease was a matter of doubt; but among other documents dis covered by this author, the following extract, from the register of burials of the city of Amsterdam, proves that he was interred in the Westerkerk (west church) 9n Oct. 8, 1669: " Deynsdach, Oct. 8, 1669, Rembrant van Rijn, Sehilder, op de Rosegraacht, teghenover het Doolhof. Laet na 2 Kvnders."—(" This day, Oct. 8., 1669 [was buried] Rembrandt van Rhyn, painter, on the llosegraacht [rose-canal], opposite the labyrinth. He leaves two children.")