Rembrandt, one of the greatest painters in the history of Western art, was born in Leiden in 1606, the son of a wealthy miller. At 18, he moved to Amsterdam and started working for Pieter Lastman, a popular painter. Under his tutelage Rembrandt developed his talents as a successful painter and etcher. His use of light and dark gave his subjects a physical presence, which for the first time involved the viewer in the painting.Independant painter Rembrandt returned to Leiden to work as an independent