Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669), possible the most famous Dutch artist who ever lived, was born in as the son of a rich miller. At the age of eighteen, he moved to Amsterdam to work for Pieter Lastman, a popular painter. Six months later, he returned to Leiden to open his own workshop.In Leiden, he accepted his first pupils, among them Gerrit Dou, and his popularity grew rapidly. In 1631, he decided to return to the flowering city of Amsterdam, where he received his first large commissions, such as from Nicolaes Tulp, for whom he produced a famous work. Three years later, he married Saskia van Uylenburch.Although he was a very talented and appreciated artist, Rembrandt spent the last years of his life in miserable circumstances. His dear Saskia passed away and his many debts compelled him to sell his house and his possessions. A few years later, he lost his mistress Henkdrickje Stoffels and his son Titus as well, and he died penniless in 1669.