be local boy made good

[Bushwhacker]

Please, what does it mean "This project posits Rembrandt as very ambitious to better himself as a provincial, to be the local boy made good..."

Problems of meaning in red.

Does "to better himself as a provincial" mean "to increase the image of his provincial condition"?

Does "to be the local boy made good" mean "to show him as local (rural) boy who is going to be promoted to higher society levels?

Thanl You.

[Anglika]

It means to better his position even though he is a provincial - to show he is just as good as those sophisticated city artists.