DETAIL OF THE ANATOMY LESSON
By Rembrandt
IN THE HAGUE MUSEUM
REMBRANDT
The Master Painter
TWO
The year 1640 marks the beginning of what may be termed the second period of Rembrandt’s life and work. It was during these years that success and happiness were his. From then until 1654 Rembrandt worked in what has been called his “second manner.” His art grew in power, and the coldness of his “first manner” had disappeared. He had passed through a period of exaggerated expression and had come to a truer, calmer form of painting. It is interesting to compare his own portrait painted in 1640 with the earlier portraits of himself. This painting portrays a man strong and robust, with powerful head, determined chin, and keen, penetrating eyes. This was the Rembrandt of that period, the man confidently independent and careless as to his popularity as an artist.
Rembrandt had now many pupils. He had bought a house in Amsterdam, and had placed in it a great collection of paintings and engravings. At that time the artist was living a life of simple domesticity, happy with his wife and children. His friends were many, and his interests were large.
Rembrandt’s mother died in 1640, and two years later the great sorrow of his life came upon him. His wife Saskia died. This changed everything for him. The events of his latter days are clouded in obscurity.
The terms of Saskia’s will are interesting, in that they may throw some light upon a later action of the artist’s, which will be related further on. She left her money to their son Titus, with Rembrandt as sole trustee, and with full use of the money until he should marry again or until the marriage of Titus.