The Night Watch (1642) by Rembrandt Harmensz van RijnRijksmuseum
Widely regarded as one of the greatest paintings of the Dutch Baroque era, also known as the Golden Age of Dutch art, The Night Watch is perhaps the best known work by Rembrandt.
Originally known as The Company of Frans Banning Cocq and Willem van Ruytenburgh, the painting features a group of military men and was completed in 1642 in Amsterdam. The work was likely commissioned by the men who feature in it, and was intended to hang in the Great Room of the Kloveniersdoelen, or the Musketeers Assembly Hall.
But how much do you really know about this Dutch masterpiece? Is there more to discover than just a superb example of technical painting? Let’s take a closer look and see what we can find.
Is it really night time?
Despite the updated name of the painting, the picture almost certainly does not portray a night time scene. The well known title was not actually given by the artist but probably applied some time later at the start of the 18th century.
By this time the tones of the painting had almost certainly darkened considerably thanks to layers of dirt accumulating in the varnish, giving it the appearance of being night.
Who are the figures in the picture?
Around this time, companies of civil militiamen had formed in the northern Netherlands with the aim of defending their cities. They would be tasked with guarding the streets, tackling fires, and generally maintaining order. Each company would have its own guild hall, which were often decorated with portraits of serving members, usually armed and dressed in their finery. As such, these kinds of pictures aimed to promote a sense of pride in their civic duty.
In The Night Watch, the company is under the command of Captain Frans Banning Cocq, who you can see in the center foreground, dressed in black and with the white lace collar commonly worn by the upper classes at the time.
Striding forward to meet him is Willem van Ruytenburgh, dressed in bright yellow.
Who is the golden girl?
One of the most unusual features of the painting is the mysterious girl who emerges from the center of the painting.
Dressed in gold and with flowing blond hair, she carries a chicken tied to her waistband.
The bird is the clue to the puzzle, as a golden claw was used as an emblem for the musketeers at this time. So, the girl probably personifies the whole company in the painting.
Why are musketeers important?
The musket is the most prominent weapon in the painting and the official weapon of the Kloveniers. They are given significance just behind the head of the captain and are painted to display the basic way to properly handle the weapon.
On the left, the musketeer is pouring powder into his muzzle.
Next, a helmeted figure fires off his weapon.
Lastly, another figure cleans the powder from his musket.
Want to know more?
If you would like to know more about Rembrandt's work or want to discover hidden meanings in his other paintings, you can find it all here.
