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Introduction

From 1631 onwards, Rembrandt (1606-1669) led a turbulent life in Amsterdam that would span a period of thirty years. He reached the top of his professional field, producing many portraits and of course the famous Night Watch in 1642. But by the 1650s, he was facing financial problems. He and his life companion Hendrickje Stoffels were forced to leave the large house and studio in the Jodenbreestraat. Rembrandt would continue living and working in a much smaller house on the Rozengracht in Amsterdam, where he died in 1669. What was his professional life like in his final decade?

Post-insolvency

A logical step in his insolvency proceedings in the second half of the 1650s was the ‘liquidation’ of the insolvent estate. It meant that the assets of the estate could be sold and therefore turned into cash through a sales process. Afterwards, the incoming money was distributed among Rembrandt creditors. 

 Sales of items from the inventory most likely took place from November 1656, more than three months after the inventory had been drawn up. These sales continued until February 1659. As far as can be established from documents, there were six sales in total.

1.    Idea, research, author, and narration: Bob Wessels:  linkedin.com/in/bobwessels
2.    Artwork, editing, production: Jan Wind:  linkedin.com/in/janwind-videomaker
3.    Artwork based on the bookcover of ‘Rembrandt’s money’ designed by Teun Okkerse: linkedin.com/in/theun-okkerse-516130b
4. Copyright accountability:
Music: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (orchestra) - Thomas Beecham (conductor) The Salomon Symphonies (Volume One) — Capitol Records, 1958. GCR 7127. Copyright Public Domain - Source: Internet Archive - Public Domain
Artwork for this episode:
Public Domain

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For a few years I did extensive research, leading to my book of Rembrandt’s Money. The legal and financial life of an artist-entrepreneur in 17th century Holland. The first edition of the book Rembrandt’s Money, published in autumn 2021. It is nearly sold out. See https://webshop.rembrandthuis.nl/nl/rembrandts-money.htmlOr: https://shop.wolterskluwer.nl/Rembrandt-s-Money-sNPREMBMON/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAu9yqBhBmEiwAHTx5p09qw-mnSxvfLuexD9n-MFLvE_EABhlDHGVEMVes2b2ygNNeyMim-BoCqbgQAvD_BwE