The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-04-10

Rembrandt was the youngest OF seven
children, of whom two died in infancy.
His father, Harmen Gerretsz, was a miller
who lived on one of the ramparts near the
White Gate of the city of fLeyden. Accord
ing to Blanc, who claims to have gained
access to documents heretofore unknown,
he was born on the 18th of June, 1905, and
received the bapsismal name of REM
brandt Harmensz van Ryn, that is, Rem
brandt son of Hirman of the Rhine. His
father, being well of in worldly goods, de-
termined to give his youngest son an edu-
cation, and he was, when at a suitable age
sent to the university of Leyden. This
university, which numbered among its
leaders Scaliger, Grotius (the monster of
erudition'1. Arminius, and Boerhaaye,
was founded by William the Silent, in
commemoration of the brave defense made
by the Leydeners against the Spaniards
He offered the people their choice, the re-
mission of taxes or the founding of uni
versity, and they chose the latter. Rem
brandt much preferred to the study of let
ters that of art, and his parents wisely let
him follow his bent.
Accounts differ as to who were his
teachers-the pupil at any rate soon out
grew them-Sandrart, his contemporary,
asserting he studied first with Swanen-
burg, and then spent six months in the
Houbraken with equal positiveness de-
clares Eastman was his first teacher,
whom he left in six months, in order to
study under Jacques Pinas. Certain it is
that in both Lastman's and Pinas's works
are to be found the rudiments of the style
of art which was rendered imperishable
by their pupil. The year 1923 brought
him, lad of II, again home, studying by
himself the arts of painting and etching.
He is Justly called the "prince of etchers," /"
using not only the needle, but also the dry
point, and the graver in giving the finish:
ing touches. In 1877 q fine collection of
his etchings was exhibited in London, and
q series of articles commenting on them
appeared in the Academy, written by G. II.
Middleton, under the title of notes on
Rembrandt"
HIS first etchings, as far as known, were
done in 1923, his mother being the sub
ject; and this same year he accepted his
first pupil, Gerard Douw, who remained
with him for three years. The next yeaI
he etched his own portrait, the first of q
series representing him from youth to age
in every variety of position and costume
there being no less than thirty.three por
traits of himself, the last bearing date 1867
! The first of these is the likeness of a mar
alert and vigorous. His broad forehead
slightly arched, shows the development.
which announce Imagination. His abund
ant hair, of warm hue bordering on red
and naturally curly, seems to disclose /,
Jewish type. His face, spite of its ugli
ness, is one of much expression; a large
broad nose, high cheek k-bones, a coarse
rough skin, give an air of vulgarity, ne
deemed, however, by the mouth, the prout
curve of the eyebrows, and the brillianc,
of the eyes. Such was Rembrandt in hi
youth; and the character of his figure
would necessarily resemble the characte
of his own person; that is, they woul,
have expressiveness without nobility,
great deal of sentiment" but no style
The last portrait is that of an old man, tn
face wrinkled by age, and toneless, dressed
however, in the bravery Of fur robe,
a velvet cap, and across his breast q chain
The first paintings that can be authenti
Gated as Rembrandt's were executed il
1880, one of which is now in the gallery a
Cassel, the portrait Of an old man, showing
even in this early picture the wonderful
effects of light and shade for which tn
master is celebrated. His fame was n
longer confined to Leyden. He had ono
or twice visited the Hague, had receives
commissions from Amsterdam, connois
seurs and art lovers come to seek him out
and in consequence of repeated sugge.
tions he in 1886 removed to Amsterdam
and took at once his acknowledged plac
as the head of the Dutch school Of art
IHarper's Magazine.