The "Old Church" is the oldest church in Amsterdam and dates from 1300. It is no longer in use as a church but as an exhibition place. The floor is covered with very old grave-stones and many of them are beautiful decorated but a bit declined because of the many footsteps in all the past years. I will show you the grave stones later but will now focus on one special grave.
I have described the church before here
One of the best known people who is buried here is Saskia van Uylenburgh born in 1612 and died in 1642. She was born as the daughter of a Frisian mayor. She did not marry an academic, but became the wife of painter Rembrandt van Rijn, who was the son of a wealthy miller from Leiden. In the course of her life she was his model for some of his paintings, drawings and etchings.
Saskia was orphaned by age 12 and raised by her sister Hiskje and her husband and later by another sister Antje who died young. In 1634 she married Rembrandt and moved to Amsterdam. Rembrandt gained financial success through his artwork and bought a house in the Jodenbreestreet which is a museum now, the Rembrandthouse
Selfportrait of Rembrandt
Three of their children died shortly after birth and were buried in the nearby Zuiderchurch. The sole survivor was Titus, who was named after his mother's sister Titia. Saskia died the year after he was born, aged 29 in 1642, probably from tuberculosis and was buried in the "Oude Kerk" (Old Church).
This a my tribute to Taphophile Tragics
nice! very interesting.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenwhen i was little, i always found it strange that these churches had all those graves inside, and that i could just walk on them (even had to walk on them to go through the church).
imagine all that happened to saskia, but still only became 29 years old... :(
A very interesting grave indeed. I love learning about famous people.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenOh wat goed van je dat je alle achtergrond erbij schrijft. Mooi, mooi.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenThis meme is so interesting.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenDo you think this is the original grave marker? If so, was it assumed that everyone would always know her last name? Until the 20th century, many gravestones here had only the wife's first name. In a post feminist world that is not longer accetable.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenSuch an interesting post Bieb, and what a wonderful old site to explore.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenI'm astounded by your history and stories.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenThank you for a great history lesson!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenVery interesting post. Thanks for including the portraits. I especially love the artistic clutter and bustling about in the top image.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenAn amazing story centuries old... Your images and the portraits complete the history/art lesson.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenBises,
Genie
Hah! You know, I think I may have been into that church, or maybe one very like it in Den Haag. I went into a massive old place, that had been stripped of all ornamentation during the reformation. It has the most wonderful gardens and contemplation areas outside. You top image today reminded me of it.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenThis is a wonderful contribution to Taphophile Tragics. To have died so young, and yet to still be remembered through painted portraits. Such a sad story actually. I have just read Wiki's entry for Rembrandt, and he was buried in an unmarked grave. How ironic!
I agree with Ann, that this is a fascinating meme. And it comes down to the detailed and unusual posts that the contributors create. I appreciate it very much. Thank you.
Mooie fotos, Marianne. Ik ben hier met mijn vrouw geweest in 2008 - mooi om het weer te zien.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenI missed this one last week, so had to stop and have a look.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenI fell in love with the name Saskia when I lived in Amsterdam and vowed if I ever had a daughter I would giver her that name. I didn't.