HistoryFaces [ http://bit.ly/HistoryFacesApp ] honors Series 3’s Rembrandt van Rijn on the anniversary of his death, 10/04/1669. The painter, often described as the greatest of Holland's "Golden Age," is best known for portraits and self-portraits (SP).#OTD#Rembrandt

Rembrandt’s Wikipedia page claims that his many “self-portraits form a unique and intimate biography, in which the artist surveyed himself without vanity and with the utmost sincerity.” This thread tests the supposition chronologically.#OTD#Rembrandt

SP as a Young Man (c. 1628, age 22): @rijksmuseum says, despite his inexperience, “...Rembrandt [is] experimenting. ...the light rakes his right cheek... the rest of his face is ...in shadow... It takes a moment to realize ...he is peering out at you.” #OTD#Rembrandt

According to [ http://rembrandtpainting.net ], in 1628, “lawyer & humanist Arnold van Buchel visits Leiden & notes in his diary that a miller's son is causing a sensation there as an artist, although he finds that a little premature." #OTD#Rembrandt

SP Wearing a Feathered Bonnet (1635): #nationaltrustcollections notes the artist’s “jewelled beret has elegant golden & white plumes, attached theatrically ...He is ...in a starkly-lit studio & his shadow with the feathers is playfully depicted on the wall... #OTD#Rembrandt

In 1635, Rembrandt and his wife of one year, Saskia van Uylenburgh moved into their own house in Amsterdam. #OTD#Rembrandt

SP at 34 (1640, age 34): @NationalGallery describes Rembrandt, “portraying himself as a Renaissance gentleman, & as the artist he is both paying homage to & directly comparing himself with the most famous artists of that time.” #OTD#Rembrandt

By 1640, Rembrandt was quite comfortable financially but, in 1640, Saskia gave birth to their second daughter, Cornelia, who survived for only a month. #OTD#Rembrandt

SP, 1652: Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum notes that, “Unlike the early years of success in which the artist liked to portray himself in sumptuous robes or disguise, he meets us here in a plain brown painter's coat; ...his arms propped on his hips...” #OTD#Rembrandt

By 1652, Rembrandt was living beyond his means. In 1649, he was sued for breach of promise by his former maid & lover, Geertje Dircks, & forced to pay a monthly stipend. In 1650, now in a relationship with Hendrickje Stoffels, he was able to have Dircks arrested. #OTD#Rembrandt

SP, 1659: According to @ngadc, which dubs this painting Self-Portrait Frowning, “Rembrandt painted this self-portrait in 1659, when he had suffered financial failure after many years of success.” #OTD#Rembrandt

SP at the Age of 63 (1669), painted shortly before his death: According to @NationalGallery (UK), “Many ...have interpreted this as intense, unflinching, existential honesty: ...coming to terms with the approach of death. But ... #OTD#Rembrandt

...in the 17th century people had different ideas about self-analysis & how the mind works than we do now. Rembrandt’s motives may have been more straightforward – driven ...more by a professional fascination with the challenges of his art.” #OTD#Rembrandt

In this thread, HF [ http://bit.ly/HistoryFacesApp ] offered 6 Rembrandt self-portraits. Do they, “form a unique and intimate biography, in which the artist surveyed himself without vanity and with the utmost sincerity,” as per Wiklipedia? We cut & paste... you decide. #OTD#Rembrandt