NEW MARLEN REMBRANDT 400 FOUNTAIN PEN BROAD NIB COMES WITH BOX AND PAPERS LIMITED TO 400 PIECES. 18 kt Nib Fountain Pen. In 2006 it would have been 400 years ago that Rembrandt, holland greatest 17th century painter was born. Rembrandt was born on July 15, 1606 in Weddesteeg. At the tender age of 14, Rembrandt managed to convince his father that he wanted to train as a painter. In view of this ambition, his father gave him permission to be apprenticed to the Leiden master painter Jacob van Swanenburgh (1571-1631) in 1621 During his three-year apprenticeship with Van Swanenburgh Rembrandt progressed remarkably. His father agreed to him continuing his training in Amsterdam with the history painter Pieter Lastman.After these useful period, Rembrandt returned to Leiden around 1625. He once more lived with his parents in Weddesteeg where he opened a small, independent studio. He shared this studio with his good friend and painter Jan Lievens (1607-1674) who had also been apprenticed to Lastman. Rembrandt made his first history paintings in this studio. The two self-willed young painters acquired fame almost immediately. Around 1628 they attracted the attention of Constantijn Huygens (1596-1687), secretary to the Prince of Orange. Soon after, they received their first commissions from the court in The Hague. Rembrandt?s fame as a painter grew steadily. He received increasingly more commissions in Amsterdam, mainly for portraits. Like no other artist, Rembrandt managed to capture light and shadows in paint. In addition, his drawings and etchings are unequalled. In spite of the many commissions, His unorthodox way of life lost him favor with the middle classes. Rembrandt did not always honor his price agreements. He often doubled the price that was agreed! It is likely that this kind of behavior gave him a bad name. Because of Rembrandt?s passion for collecting - he bought scores of objets d?art, costumes and bric-a-brac _ and his expensive house, he had financial difficulties. He was even declared bankrupt in 1656 and his house and collections were auctioned off. Rembrandt died on October 4, 1669. Four days later he was buried in an obscure rented grave of the Westerkerk Church. |