He moved
to Amsterdam in 1631 and later married Saskia van Uylenburgh,
the cousin of a successful art dealer who would enhance his career,
introducing him to wealthy patrons who commissioned portraits
from him. His other paintings were greatly sought after and he
was making enough money to afford a huge house filled with many
famous works of art. Of his and Saskia's four children, only one
survived infancy and Saskia herself died in 1642.
He was forced to declare bankruptcy in 1656 after his ostentatious
lifestyle exceeded even the substantial funds he was making as
a painter, teacher, and art dealer. He was forced to auction off
his treasured art collection as well as his house. He began to
focus more on painting for his own enjoyment rather than for commission
and his paintings from this time are thought to be his best, showing
a depth of richness and spirituality missing in the precise brushstrokes
of his earlier works.
