The terms of Saskia’s will are interesting, in that they may throw some light upon a later action of the artist’s, which will be related further on. She left her money to their son Titus, with Rembrandt as sole trustee, and with full use of the money until he should marry again or until the marriage of Titus.
It was in 1642 also that Rembrandt painted his most famous picture--the “Night Watch.” This is one of the landmarks of Rembrandt’s career. However, it is not a night watch at all, but a call to arms by day, and more properly should be named the “Day Watch.”
The artist’s life was changed after the death of his wife. No longer does he appear to have been the buoyant, carefree painter and art lover. There is a pathetic sadness in many of his works done at this time. This is well illustrated in his pictures of the Holy Family, a subject which was a favorite with him during this period of his life.
One reason for Rembrandt’s unhappiness was his waning popularity. The “Night Watch,” which was painted to order as a collection of portraits in one composition, did not prove satisfactory to his customers. Some of them complained of being put in the background and obscured. Naturally, the artist could not give places of prominence to every person in the picture. Not understanding this, however, these people took offence at his disposition of the characters, and transferred their patronage elsewhere.
It was at this time that Rembrandt did a great deal of landscape painting, and genius that he was, he made a success of it. It is to this period that the famous painting, “The Mill,” is ascribed.
But though he was still the great artist, a cloud of adversity was slowly coming over Rembrandt’s life. Evil days were at hand.
PREPARED BY THE EDITORIAL STAFF OF THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION ILLUSTRATION FOR THE MENTOR, VOL. 4, No. 20, SERIAL No. 120 COPYRIGHT, 1916, BY THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION, INC.
[Illustration: IN THE WIDENER COLLECTION, PHILADELPHIA
During the last part of the seventeenth century money was scarce in Holland. Long continued wars and civil troubles had worn out the country. Financial depression overwhelmed Amsterdam; and in addition to this the taste in art changed, and Rembrandt and his pictures were neglected.