Rembrandt van Rijn
Titus, born in 1641, was the fourth child of the painter Rembrandt and his first wife, Saskia, and the only one to reach adulthood. After 1659, he and his father’s mistress, Hendrickje Stoffels, managed Rembrandt’s business, as the artist had lost his fortune due to a lavish lifestyle and a poor investment, details of which remain unclear in the archives. A court had previously declared the artist legally incompetent. Titus, however, died in 1668, a year before his father.
Rembrandt often used his son as a model. In this painting, Titus is seated in an armchair, engrossed in a book he holds in his hands. His slightly open mouth suggests deep concentration, adding a subtle immediacy to the scene. He appears relaxed, his full attention focused on the book, away from the viewer. Light is concentrated on his forehead, hands, and book, enhancing the intimate immediacy of the moment.
In Rembrandt's times, the internet didn't exist, so Titus couldn't learn from online courses. But you can! In fact, we greatly encourage you to do so. Today is the last day of our National Online Learning Day Sale and all of our online courses on art history are 25% off. :)
P.S. Artists loved to portray members of their families, especially children. Take a look at several famous painters and portraits of their children!