This year is the 350th anniversary of the death of Rembrandt Van Rijn, one of the greatest painters of all time & Dutch hero.
One of the coolest things happening is an exhibition at the @friesmuseum about him & the love of his life, Saskia Van Uylenburgh... THREAD 1/
One of the coolest things happening is an exhibition at the @friesmuseum about him & the love of his life, Saskia Van Uylenburgh... THREAD 1/
There's no doubt that Rembrandt, born in 1606, was a talent to be reckoned with. However, many have considered he lacked focus, that he needed a muse to bring out his best work. /2
Lucky, then, that when he came to Amsterdam in the 1630s, he met Saskia van Uylenburgh - a lively, intelligent young woman from a good family, with an independent spirit.
She chose Rembrandt - some said she married down in choosing the young artist. /3
She chose Rembrandt - some said she married down in choosing the young artist. /3
Rembrandt and Saskia married on the 2nd of July 1634 in a church at Sint Annaparochie in Friesland.
Later, they moved at Amsterdam, where they would spend the rest of their short time together. /4
Later, they moved at Amsterdam, where they would spend the rest of their short time together. /4
Rembrandt painted and sketched Saskia again and again. She would be a model for some of his best known works. She loved to pose.
Then they would collapse into bed. /5
Then they would collapse into bed. /5
It was not to last, however. The couple made it through the early death of all but one of their children, and shortly after giving birth to Titus, she died, aged only 29 on the 14th of June 1642.
Rembrandt continued to sketch her through her final illness. /6
Rembrandt continued to sketch her through her final illness. /6
Now, Rembrandt was a, well, a cad - there were other women, but the death of Saskia seemed to unhook something within him, unravelling himself. A light slowly dimmed, bringing the gloom that colour some of his greatest melancholic works - notably, his self-portraits. /7
Rembrandt died on the 4th October 1669, destitute. He was buried in a pauper's grave at the Westerkerk in Amsterdam.
For many years, it seemed like history might forget Rembrandt. We know, however, it didn't - and that the live he had for Saskia helped illuminate his works. /8
For many years, it seemed like history might forget Rembrandt. We know, however, it didn't - and that the live he had for Saskia helped illuminate his works. /8
If you would like to know more about Rembrandt & Saskia's love story 'Rembrandt & Saskia: Love in the Dutch Golden Age' is on at the @FriesMuseum until the 17th of March. /FIN friesmuseum.nl/en/see-and-do/…
