How a shy girl who did not live to reach 30 inspired Rembrandt to exceptional success: Saxia

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Rembrandt's legacy is invaluable today. It is a treasure trove of masterful canvases, drawings and etchings, which are an inspiration for young painters and a real asset for all of us. It is likely that we would not have seen all the picturesque splendor if Saskia, who inspires him, had not been in Rembrandt's life.

Artist biography

His full name is Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn. He was born in Leiden on July 15, 1606. His family was quite wealthy at that time: his father was a miller, and his mother was the daughter of a baker. The parents were very concerned about the future and, of course, about the education of their son. Rembrandt began his studies at the Latin School, and at the age of 14 he entered Leiden University, which he soon dropped out. Studying there did not interest him, Rembrandt wanted to study art. For three and a half years, the young man studied with the painters Jacob van Swanenburg and Peter Lastman, and later, at 22, Rembrandt opened his own studio. And then, in 1625, he took on the training of the first students. By the way, one of his students was the famous artist Gerrit Dow.

Rembrandt's biggest breakthrough is his dramatic and masterful use of light and shadow, as well as gorgeous portraits. Be it painting, engraving or drawing, Rembrandt, who created more self-portraits than anyone before him (about 75), preferred to show himself in a wide variety of roles. We can see Rembrandt as a soldier in old-fashioned armor, as a ragged beggar, and as a stylish courtier. Or we can play the role of an exotic dressed oriental leader, or even in the form of St. Paul.

It has been 350 years since Rembrandt left this world at the age of 63. He died in poverty. His fall was as dramatic as his rise. Rembrandt was buried like Mozart in a beggar's grave. But he was resurrected for the world of painting as an outstanding chronicler of the human face. The tenacity and talent of the artist during his lifetime led to the fact that today Rembrandt is one of the leading painters of the Dutch Golden Age.

Rembrandt and Saskia: a love story for centuries

A significant part of Rembrandt's works are portraits of his beloved wife Saskia, which, with their plots, personify their happy, but short and doomed marriage.

On Rembrandt's canvases, Saskia is combing her hair, looking temptingly at her husband or smiling mysteriously at him. And somewhere shining Saskia can be seen from the window and this moment her husband and artist could also display on canvas. Numerous pen and ink drawings, sketched with great concentration, were found in a folder after the artist's death. Like a personal diary, Rembrandt kept it away from prying eyes. And in it he kept the most precious thing - the images of his beloved wife.

Rembrandt van Rijn married Saskia van Eilenbürch in Friesland in 1634. Sasuke (Frisian epiphany name) was born in Leeuwarden into a wealthy upper-middle-class family of landowners. The artist met her in 1633 when she was visiting her cousin Hendrik Wheelenburg in Amsterdam. At the time, Wheelenburg was Rembrandt's art dealer who set up a painting firm. Rembrandt also occupied a space in Hendrik's house, which he used to work on private orders. The affairs of the art dealer and the artist were getting better and, I must say, Rembrandt was not modest in prices for his works: the young genius alone costs 50 florins, and for a full-length portrait he can demand up to six hundred (about 24 thousand Russian rubles)! By the time they met, Saskia, in fact, was not at all the pampered youngest daughter of the burgomaster, but for several years now she was an orphan. Saskia's mother died when she was 7 years old, she lost her father at 12. Thus, Saskia's cousin played a decisive role in the acquaintance of the girl and the master.

On June 8, 1633, their engagement took place, and on June 22, 1634, they were married in the church of the village of St. Annaparochie near Leeuwarden. A year later, the couple played a magnificent wedding in Sint-Annaparokhi. Their marriage only lasted ten years. In addition to happy moments, during this time they experienced the rise of Rembrandt and the death of three newborn children. Only one child - Titus - survived, but Saskia never saw him growing up … She died in Amsterdam shortly before her thirtieth birthday.

The first years in Amsterdam were the happiest in Rembrandt's life. The marriage with Saskia van Eilenbürch opens the doors of the mansions of wealthy burghers for the artist, including her father, the burgomaster of Leeuwarden. Orders are pouring in to him one by one. At least fifty portraits date back precisely to the first years of Rembrandt's stay in Amsterdam. And after the death of his beloved wife, a streak of life's hardships began in Rembrandt's life: a dramatic fall as a master, lack of orders, litigation, poverty, etc.

First portrait with Saskia

The first work, capturing the appearance of the beloved, was written 3 days after the engagement, in the summer of 1633. Rembrandt created a silver pencil drawing depicting Saskia wearing a large hat with flowers. Saskia tode herself is holding a flower. Signature of the artist is significant: "This is my wife at the age of 21, three days after our engagement, June 8, 1633". They portrayed his future wife as a smiling, sweet, ardent beauty. She gives the artist and her fiance a sincere, warm smile. Her face shines, her hair is slightly disheveled, her eyes sparkle with cheerfulness. She holds a flower in her hand. Her wide-brimmed hat is also adorned with flowers. And soon she will marry the man who sits opposite him, and who will later become one of the most brilliant portrait painters in the world.

Other jobs

In his 1636 engraving, Self-Portrait with Saskia, Rembrandt depicted himself with Saskia in historical costumes. He wears a fur-trimmed coat, Saskia wears a headscarf, which, surprisingly, is the only etching depicting the couple together. The heroes are represented at half height, sitting at the table. Rembrandt clearly dominates the plot as he grabs the viewer's attention with his serious expression. The visor of his hat casts a dark shadow over his eyes, which adds mystery to his faces. Saskia sits behind him. It is interesting that Rembrandt depicted his wife in a smaller size. She is lost in her thoughts. Perhaps the couple were discussing something, and we, the audience, suddenly interrupted their serious conversation.

Also in 1633, her portraits were painted: "Laughing Saskia" (now in the Dresden gallery) and "Portrait of Saskia in a red hat" (Kassel). In 1635, Rembrandt captured her in the painting The Prodigal Son in a Tavern. Three times Rembrandt portrayed Saskia as Flora: in 1634 (Flora (Hermitage)), in 1641 (Dresden) and in 1660 (New York).

Van Gogh once wrote that he would give a decade of his life just to sit in front of Rembrandt's Jewish Bride for two weeks. His quote says it all: "Rembrandt says what is not said in any language."