Titus van Rijn

{{Short description|Son of Rembrandt (1641–1668)}} {{family name hatnote|Van Rijn|Rijn|lang=Dutch}} {{Infobox person |name = Titus van Rijn |image = Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn 104.jpg |imagesize = |caption = Portrait of Titus by his father (Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna) |birth_date = {{birth date|1641|09|22|mf=y}} |birth_place = Amsterdam, Dutch Republic |death_date = {{death date and age|1668|9|4|1641|09|22}} |death_place = Amsterdam, Dutch Republic |resting_place = Westerkerk, Amsterdam |spouse = Magdalena van Loo |parents = Rembrandt van Rijn<br />Saskia van Uylenburgh |children = Titia van Rijn }} '''Titus van Rijn''' (22 September 1641 – 4 September 1668) was the son of Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn and Saskia van Uylenburgh. He is known as a model in his father's paintings and studies, as an art-dealer but also because of a legal case. Titus and Rembrandt were Saskia's only heirs.<ref>Ruysscher, D. D., & ’T Veld, C. I. (2021). Rembrandt’s insolvency: The artist as legal actor, Oud Holland–Journal for Art of the Low Countries, 134(1), 9-24. doi: https://doi.org/10.1163/18750176-13401002</ref><ref>[https://www.vub.be/en/news/rembrandts-insolvency-no-preconceived-plan-but-smart-entr VUB researchers study artist’s financial management] </ref>

==Early life==

[[File:Rembrandt van Rijn - Rembrandts zoon Titus in monniksdracht (Rijksmuseum Amsterdam).jpg|thumb|Rembrandt's son Titus, painted as a Franciscan monk (1660). <ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hedquist |first=Valerie |date=1994 |title=Rembrandt and the Franciscan Order of Amsterdam |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/03096564.1994.11784018 |journal=Dutch Crossing |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=20-49 |via=Taylor & Francis}}</ref>]]

Titus van Rijn grew up in what is now the Rembrandthuis. Around 1643, Geertje Dircx was hired as his caretaker and wet nurse. In 1649 she quarrelled with Rembrandt van Rijn, probably in connection with his relationship with Hendrickje Stoffels.

In 1655, during a year of plague, the fourteen-year-old Titus made a will at his father’s request, naming Rembrandt as sole heir. One year later his half-sister Cornelia (1654-1684) became his only heir.<ref>Wexuan, Li. [https://oudholland.rkd.nl/index.php/reviews/32-review-of-machiel-bosman-rembrandts-plan-de-ware-geschiedenis-van-zijn-faillissement "Review of: 'Rembrandts plan: De ware geschiedenis van zijn faillissement"], ''Oud Holland Reviews'', April 2020.</ref> In May 1656 Rembrandt transferred his share in the house to Titus shortly before applying for cessio bonorum.<ref>[https://www.vub.be/en/news/rembrandts-insolvency-no-preconceived-plan-but-smart-entr VUB researchers study artist’s financial management]</ref> After the insolvency proceedings a guardian, Louis Crayers, was appointed to represent Titus’s interests and laid claim to the property on his behalf.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://zenodo.org/records/5152798/files/A83(2021)Rembrandt'sInsolvency.pdf|archiveurl=|url-status=|title=Rembrandt's insolvency: The artist as legal actor|first1=Dave De|last1=Ruysscher|first2=Cornelis In ’T|last2=Veld|date=26 April 2021|archivedate=|journal=Oud Holland – Journal for Art of the Low Countries|volume=134|issue=1|pages=9–24|via=brill.com|doi=10.1163/18750176-13401002|s2cid=236619973 }}</ref> The house was sold at foreclosure in 1658, after which the family moved from the Jodenbreestraat to more modest rented lodgings on the Rozengracht.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archief.amsterdam/inventarissen/details/10009|title=Inventarissen|website=archief.amsterdam}}</ref>

Because Rembrandt could no longer trade independently, Titus and Hendrickje established an art dealership in 1660 through which his works were marketed, while he received board and lodging.<ref>Clark, 1974 p. 105</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amsterdam.nl/stadsarchief/nieuws/rembrandt-0/|title=De geldzaken van Rembrandt - Stadsarchief Amsterdam}}</ref> In 1661 they secured a commission for the new town hall, resulting in The Conspiracy of Claudius Civilis, later rejected by the mayors.

After Hendrickje’s death in 1663 Titus assumed a more prominent role in managing family affairs and, in 1665, was declared of age.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.garyschwartzarthistorian.nl/380-whitewashing-rembrandt-part-2/|title=380 Whitewashing Rembrandt, part 2 – Gary Schwartz Art Historian|date=1 March 2020}}</ref> As Rembrandt’s principal creditor he held first claim in the event of further insolvency, a position confirmed in subsequent legal disputes before the High Court. If Rembrandt went insolvent, Titus became the first person to be paid off, before any other creditors could step in.<ref>Wexuan, Li. [https://oudholland.rkd.nl/index.php/reviews/32-review-of-machiel-bosman-rembrandts-plan-de-ware-geschiedenis-van-zijn-faillissement "Review of: 'Rembrandts plan: De ware geschiedenis van zijn faillissement"], ''Oud Holland Reviews'', April 2020.</ref>

In 1662 Isaac van Hertsbeeck, one of Rembrandt's creditors, went to the High Court as he didn't accept Titus had to be paid first.<ref>Ruysscher, D. D., & ’T Veld, C. I. (2021). Rembrandt’s insolvency: The artist as legal actor, Oud Holland – Journal for Art of the Low Countries, 134(1), 9-24. doi: https://doi.org/10.1163/18750176-13401002</ref> Isaac van Hertsbeeck lost twice and had to pay back the money he had already received to Titus, which he did in 1668.<ref>Wexuan, Li. [https://oudholland.rkd.nl/index.php/reviews/32-review-of-machiel-bosman-rembrandts-plan-de-ware-geschiedenis-van-zijn-faillissement "Review of: 'Rembrandts plan: De ware geschiedenis van zijn faillissement"], ''Oud Holland Reviews'', April 2020.</ref> In the end it was especially Cornelis Jan Witsen who profited from the sale at the expense of Titus.<ref>in 't Veld, M. (2019). Rembrandts boedelafstand: Een institutionele en politieke benadering. Pro Memorie : Bijdragen tot de rechtsgeschiedenis der Nederlanden, 21(1), 72-89. https://doi.org/10.5117/PM2019.1.004.VELD</ref>

==Marriage and death== [[File:Rembrandts Titus at Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen.webm|thumb|upright=1.2|thumbtime=65|Curator's Choice: Rembrandt's Titus, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, ''Video (2:35) In Dutch with English subtitles'']]

In February 1668, Titus married the daughter of a silversmith, Magdalena van Loo (1641-1669), related to his aunt in het Bildt. He moved in at her mother's house at Singel and owned quite a few paintings by Adriaen Brouwer.<ref>S.A.C. Dudok van Heel (1987) Dossier Rembrandt</ref> Titus died on 4 September 1668 and was buried three days later. Six months later, the widow gave birth to Titia.<ref name="Titus">{{cite web|title=Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn|url=http://www.rembrandtpainting.net/rembrandt_life_and_work.htm|website=rembrandtpainting.net|publisher=Rembrandt Biography and Chronology|access-date=29 July 2016}}</ref> As one of Rembrandt's heirs and in the possession of his keys, Magdalena did not wish to declare herself legatee but wanted to reserve the right and [decide] later on.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://bobwessels.nl/blog/2019-10-doc2-r-i-p-rembrandt-4-october-1669/ | title=2019-10-doc2 R.I.P. Rembrandt - 4 October 1669 | date=3 October 2019 }}</ref> Titus' considerable inheritance of 12,000 guilders passed to Titia, who married in Sloten her cousin François Bijler, and died at Blauwburgwal.<ref>Dudok van Heel, S.A.C. (1987) Dossier Rembrandt, pp. 86–88</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20130916121501/http://stadsarchief.amsterdam.nl/presentaties/uitgelicht/rembrandt_prive/titia_van_rijn/titia_gedoopt/index.nl.html Amsterdam City Archive]</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links == {{commonscatinline}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rijn, Titus van}} Category:1641 births Category:1668 deaths Category:Businesspeople from Amsterdam Category:Dutch art dealers Category:Articles containing video clips Category:Family of Rembrandt