The Rembrandt House Museum is dedicated to the most famous Dutch artist, Rembrandt van Rijn. It is located not far from the current Amsterdam City Hall in a house lived in by Rembrandt from 1639 until his bankruptcy in 1656.
Constructed between 1606 and 1607 in a prosperous neighborhood of rich merchants and artists, the house was originally two stories. However, in about 1627, the house was remodeled adding a third story and a new facade. When Rembrandt purchased it in 1639, he was already an established, successful artist. However, his inability to pay the mortgage forced him into bankruptcy in 1656.
The house remained a residential structure for the next 250 years. However, by the early 20th century, the house had deteriorated and probably would have been demolished but the City of Amsterdam stepped in and purchased the dilapidated building. The City then handed the house over to Stichting Rembrandthuis, a foundation set up in 1907, for use as a museum.
The painter Jan Veth suggested that a collection of Rembrandt's etchings be assembled and exhibited in the house in which they were made. This suggestion turned into reality and Queen Wilhemina of the Netherlands opened the museum in 1911.
From the outset, it was hoped that the house could be restored to the way it looked in Rembrandt's day. However, there was no funding available for such an extensive project. Therefore, the house was used as exhibition space for the museum's art collection.
In the 1990s, the museum obtained the funds needed to make the long-desired restoration.. Extensive research was done on how Rembrandt used the various rooms in the house. Also, an inventory of the contents of the house had been done during Rembrant's bankruptcy. This has enabled the museum to recreate Rembrandt's possessions. As a result, the house has been refurbished with furniture, art and objects like the ones that would have been seen in Rembrandt's day.
Next to the Rembrandt's house is a modern building in which the museum displays works by Rembrandt. The museum also stages exhibitions about Rembrandt, his pupils, his predecessors and contemporaries as well as exhibitions of works by today's artists who are inspired by Rembrandt.
Since its founding, the museum's collection grew through gifts and acquisition of etchings and drawings. Consequently, it has an almost complete collection of Rembrandt's etchings. 260 of the 290 etchings Rembrandt made are represented in the collection. In addition, the museum has a small number of paintings by predecessors and contemporaries of Rembrandt such as Pieter Lastman who was one of Rembrandt's teachers.
For information on visiting, see the Rembrandt House website.
Above: Rembrandt's studio.*
Below: The area where Rembrandt's pupils worked.*
*The images on this page are courtesy of the Rembrandt House Museum.
Places to see art - - Amsterdam, The Netherlands - - Rembrandt House Museum