Latin School
In the early 17th century millers were members of the middle classes. Rembrandt’s parents were fairly well off. Being the youngest son of this prosperous family of ten children, Rembrandt’s parents wanted him to have a university education. They sent him to the Latin School in Lokhorststraat. The pupils of this school were taught in Latin. They had to speak Latin together and all exams were taken in Latin.

Passion for painting
At the tender age of fourteen, Rembrandt’s parents enrolled him at Leiden University. Enrolling students in advance was common practice in Leiden in those days. The students did not actually start their studies until they were seventeen years old. His enrolment at university exempted Rembrandt from militia duty. It also allowed him to buy beer and wine without having to pay taxes. However, he never studied at Leiden University for his passion for painting was too strong.

Rembrandt the apprentice
Rembrandt managed to convince his father that he did not aspire to become a scholar. He wanted to train as a painter. A history painter at that; the highest possible position that could be achieved in painting in those days. In view of this ambition, his father gave him permission to be apprenticed to the Leiden master painter Jacob van Swanenburgh (1571-1631) in 1621. Van Swanenburgh was a history painter himself and had achieved some renown because he had studied in Italy. Rembrandt was taught the rudiments of painting in Van Swanenburgh’s studio on Langeburg 89.

Pieter Lastman’s influence
During his three-year apprenticeship with Van Swanenburgh Rembrandt progressed remarkably. His father agreed to him continuing his training in Amsterdam with the history painter Pieter Lastman (1583-1633). In 1624 Rembrandt exchanged the Langeburg studio in Leiden for Lastman's studio in St. Anthonisbreestraat in Amsterdam. Lastman, who had also studied in Italy, painted biblical, mythological and historical scenes. Rembrandt was apprenticed to Lastman for only six months. However, Lastman’s influence on Rembrandt’s work was considerable, especially with regard to his compositional arrangements

Rembrandt and Lievens
After these useful six months, Rembrandt returned to Leiden around 1625. He once more lived with his parents in Weddesteeg where he opened a small, independent studio. He shared this studio with his good friend and painter Jan Lievens (1607-1674) who had also been apprenticed to Lastman. Rembrandt made his first history paintings in this studio.

From apprentice to master
The two self-willed young painters acquired fame almost immediately. Around 1628 they attracted the attention of Constantijn Huygens (1596-1687), secretary to the Prince of Orange. Soon after, they received their first commissions from the court in The Hague. In February of the same year Rembrandt took on his first apprentice, Gerard Dou (1613-1675). Later that year another apprentice, Isack Jouderville (1612-1645/48), joined him. Both painters remained with Rembrandt until 1631.

To Amsterdam
Rembrandt’s fame as a painter grew steadily. He received increasingly more commissions in Amsterdam, mainly for portraits. He received these commissions via the Amsterdam art dealer Hendrick Uylenburgh (1587-1661). In 1631 Rembrandt decided to leave his native Leiden to settle in Amsterdam permanently.

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