Rembrandt Harmenszoom Van Rijn

Rembrandt Harmenszoom Van Rijn, known mononymously as Rembrandt was a Dutch Golden Age painter, who lived between 16th July 1606 to 4th October 1669. He is one of the great painters of the 17th century. He was born into a well-to-do family; his father was a miller and mother was daughter of a baker.  He was apprenticed to Jacob Isaacsz. van Swanenburg, a Dutch painter, and then to Pieter Lastman, and with Jacob Pynas 

In 1625, Rembrandt, together with his friend and colleague Jan Lievens began to accept students   At the end of 1631 he moved to Amsterdam, and began to practice as a professional portraitist. In Amsterdam he stayed with an art dealer, Hendrick van Uylenburgh, who helped him to launch his career. Later he married Saskia van Uylenburgh, the cousin of Hendrik Van Uylenbirhurgh. She was his model for some of his paintings.  Later, the couple moved to Jodenbreestraat, a street in Amsterdam.  The mortgage to finance the purchase of the house in Jodenbreestraat became a cause their financial difficulties.  His neighbourhood sheltered many Jewish immigrants, and here Rambrandt frequently sought his Jewish neighbours to model for his Old Testament scenes.  Amsterdam politician Andries de Graeff, the mayor of the city was one of his early patrons.

Though effluent by this time, the couple suffered several personal setbacks; three children died within weeks of their birth.  Given the medical care for general public largely remained a mix of early science and traditional remedies, it was quite normal.  Only their fourth child survived into adulthood.  His wife Sasika died in 1642, probably from tuberculosis.  Geertje Dircx, the nurse and caretaker of his fourth son, and a model became his partner in relationship.  Later, she left charging Rembrandt with breach of promise, and sued for alimony.  In due course, Rembrandt began a relationship with a 23 year old maid Hendrickje Stoffels.  In 1654 Rembrandt painted a nude Bathsheba at her Bath and Hendrickje Stoffels was believed to be his model.

Though Rembrandt had more than 300 paintings to his account as claimed by Rembrandt Research Project, "Bathsheba at Bath" is connected to Far From The Madding Crowd because the heroine of the novel carries an identical name.

Hardy brought Rambrandt into Chapter 50 of Far From The Madding Crowd while describing the interior of the circus tent where a makeshift tent is built to stage the show.  The chief attraction of the show is "Turpin's Ride to York" in which sergeant Troy plays the role of Turpin.  Bathsheba with Boldwood at her elbow enters the tent and took her reserved seat.  Boldwood leaves because he had already seen it. Since her reserved seat was somewhat raised she could see her men Jan Coggan and Joseph Poorgrass. It was a fine autumnal afternoon, sunbeams came through the holes and divisions in the canvas and the dusky blue atmosphere pervading in the tent intensified a Rambrandt effect to the scene. Rambrandt was famous for his dramatic use of light and shade - chiaroscuro.