Rembrandt Redux

An afternoon in February 1646 Constant De Leeuw was the personal secretary of the Stadhouder Prince Frederik Hendrik of Orange, and was himself a powerful man in Amsterdam. He knew most wheelers and dealers in the trade business, and Holland as a nation was doing very well. Most of the traders worked with the Dutch East Indies Company which had a monopoly on business with Asian countries, but some offered their services in other countries. He, like most of the hard working people in the city, was well aware of their trading bases in Japan at Dejima, and on the African Gold coast in Elmina. Ships brought spices and especially salt gathered from the large salt ponds from the Caribbean Island of St. Maarten. Many of the conversations at the luncheons were centered on the good fortunes of their shipping empire. Being good Calvinists, they often included in their discussions the benefits they bestowed upon the lower classes. Behind the scenes however, the feel-good attitude was tainted with a dark secret. The common man did not know that once those salt ships unloaded in the port of Amsterdam, they went to Elmina where they picked up slaves destined for the Caribbean and the Americas. The traders who were in the know didn’t talk about it and were careful to limit their comments on their business to basics. If asked about the half-empty ships that left the port of Amsterdam, their standard response was that they picked up African hardwoods to top off the cargo holds. De Leeuw controlled the conversation today, so it would not be about the spice trade, but rather on the current events in the Low Countries. Rembrandt handed his coat and gloves to the housemaid. As was customary, he kept his hat on. When he entered the dining room of the double-wide house in the trading district, he recognized everyone. Four well dressed men with lace collars were benefactors of his. Two of them had posed and paid him very well upon the completion of The Sortie, his largest painting to date. He had painted Frans Cocq as the central figure, and Willem van Ruytenberg, off the Cocq’s left in the forefront of the painting. They had recently confided in him that they didn’t particularly like the painting. Rembrandt had questioned them as to how they came to that conclusion, and discovered that they based it on negative comments they heard from others. Rembrandt knew about the rumors spread by a few dissatisfied customers. They were the tough ones to get money from because they claimed he hadn’t portrayed them clearly enough. He had no choice but to sue those customers in court. He had two cases pending against Rombout Kemp and Jacob Dircksen. Luckily they were not at De Leeuw’s house. As usual, a savvy De Leeuw was well aware of the situation and had handpicked his guests. He greeted Rembrandt. “Welcome. We’re just about to sit down.” “Glad my timing is right,” Rembrandt said, slightly nodding to the other guests. “How’s Titus? Is he making progress in his drawings?” “No. I don’t think he’ll be a painter.” De Leeuw pulled out a chair next to his. “Well, I’m sure he’ll grow up to be a fine, young man. Please be seated.” By the time the maids brought in the first course, everyone had taken their place at the table. Rembrandt knew that De Leeuw wanted to talk to him in private. Why else would he have been seated next to him at the head of the long table? When the conversation drifted to the other side of the table, De Leeuw turned to Rembrandt. “I have good news for you.” “From the Stadhouder?” “Yes.” “Another painting?” “No, not this time. Although he’s very pleased with the six Passion paintings and the last one entitled The Circumcision of Christ. He has completed the decoration of the Noordeinde Palace in The Hague.” “So, what’s the good news?” “He’s sending his treasurer tomorrow at noon to your house with the payment for the last two paintings.” “The Lord be praised! Is he paying the full amount?” “Yes, I was told it would be 2,400 florins.” “Then that settles the dispute. I am pleased.” “I thought you would be.” “But why now? I’ve been waiting a year for this.” “Apparently last week he had an important visitor from Portugal.” “A Jew I presume? We seem to be getting many Jewish refugees. I heard about the relentless persecution by the pope’s men over there.” “Yes, you’re right on all counts.” “So who was the visitor?” “A rabbi, Menassah Ben Israel. The Stadhouder showed him your last painting and the rabbi praised it during his entire visit. At one point, the Stadhouder jokingly said that the man in the painting looked a little like the rabbi. From then on, the Stadhouder seemed to value your painting more.” “And so he figured he’d finally pay up?” “I don’t question him. That painting is now his favorite.” “Well, that leaves me with just a few dispute cases.” “You’ll be doing all right. Your work is well liked.” “I hear that Amalia, his wife is the real collector in the family.” “She likes Rubens too, and if Frederik Hendrik doesn’t stop her soon, he won’t be able to pay any more bills.”