Cine s-a întâlnit cu Rembrandt?

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (n. 15 iulie 1606, Leiden, Comitatul Olanda, Provinciile Unite – d. 4 octombrie 1669, Amsterdam, Comitatul Olanda, Provinciile Unite) a fost un pictor și gravor neerlandez din secolul al XVII-lea, considerat unul din cei mai mari pictori din istoria artei, celebru și pentru desenele și gravurile sale.

A trăit în perioada denumită "epoca de aur olandeză", timp în care cultura, știința, comerțul și influența politică a Olandei au atins apogeul. Rembrandt este autorul a 600 picturi, 300 gravuri și peste 2000 desene. Maestru al tehnicei de clar-obscur, Rembrandt a fost "singurul pictor care și-a putut permite să amestece noroiul cu strălucirea ochilor, focul cu cenușa, sau să facă culorile să strălucească proaspăt, ca o floare, pe giulgiul mortuar roz sau bleu deschis" (Élie Faure).

Geertje Dircx (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɣeːrtɕə ˈdɪr(ə)ks]; c. 1610–1615 – c. 1656) was the lover of Rembrandt van Rijn after the death of his wife Saskia. She was hired as a nurse to the painter's son Titus, but lived with Rembrandt as his lover for several years. The relationship broke up acrimoniously, leading to a lengthy court-case for "breach of promise" (a euphemism for seduction under [breached] promise to marry), in which she claimed maintenance from Rembrandt. On Rembrandt's initiative, she was eventually imprisoned in a workhouse on charges of having descended into a life of loose morals. After her release she made attempts to sue Rembrandt for wrongful imprisonment.

She may be the model for a number of Rembrandt's works, but there is disagreement about which images depict her.

Hendrickje Stoffels (1626 – 21 July 1663) was the longtime partner of Rembrandt. The couple were unable to marry because of the financial settlement linked to the will of Rembrandt's deceased wife Saskia, but they remained together until Hendrickje's death. In 1654 she gave birth to Rembrandt's daughter Cornelia. In the later years of their relationship Hendrickje managed Rembrandt's business affairs together with the painter's son Titus.

Hendrickje is widely believed to have modelled for several of Rembrandt's works and to be depicted in some Tronie portraits. However, her role as Rembrandt's model is disputed by some critics.