Rembrandt was born in Leiden on July 15, 1606. Leiden is a city in the Netherlands in a province south of Holland. Rembrandt is the son of a miller. Despite the fact Rembrandt's family came from rather modest means, Rembrandts family made sure that he received a good education. Rembrandt began his studies at a Latin school in Leiden where he studied mathematics, Greek, classical literature, geography, and history. From here Rembrandt enrolled at the University of Leiden at the age of 14. Rembrandt grew rather bored with the program at the university and he soon left to study art- first with a local master Jacob van Swanenburch, a history painter who spent time in Italy. With Swanenburch Rembrandt studied the Italian masters of the Renaissance. After three years Rembrandt moved to Amsterdam where he studied art with Pieter Lastman, a man known for his historical paintings. After six months Rembrandt mastered everything he had been taught and so returned to Leiden in 1625. In Leiden Rembrandt set up his own independent studio and at the age of 22 Rembrandt took in his first pupils, among which was Gerrit Dou, a man whom later becomes a famous Dutch painter known for his meticulous technique and illusionist effects in art.
             In 1629 Rembrandt began the first of his numerous self-portraits. The paintings he completed in his studio showed a more mature use of chiaroscuro technique then his former master Lastman. Also in his studio Rembrandt worked alongside Jan Lievens, a man who was also a former student of Lastman. Rembrandt and Lievens often worked on identical themes. In 1929 when Rembrandt produced paintings focusing on the apostle Paul (Peter and Paul in Conversation), Jan Lievens painted the same apostle. A year after this Rembrandts father died. Then in 1631 Rembrandt moved to Amsterdam. Rembrandts reputation in Amsterdam and else where grew when he painted The Anatomy lesson of Dr Tulp (1632). This guild painting was like no ot...