Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606 – 1669)

Today, on 20 July 1656, Rembrandt van Rijn faced bankruptcy. He is generally considered to be one of the greatest artists of all time. Yet he couldn’t handle money. He loved abundant luxury and lived way above his means. When the Plague hits Amsterdam in 1653, his income decreases rapidly and his financial problems grow. It leads to this bankruptcy in 1656. Most of his possessions were sold, including his art collection, curiosities, his house and even his printing press. Rembrandt dies a poor man in 1669.