| Description | Rembrandt painted The Night Watch in 1642 and is known as one of his most famous paintings. It is also been recognized as one of Rembrandt’s most debatable and controversial works of art. The Night Watch is the largest painting (at 142.9 in x 172.0 in) in Rembrandt’s line of work. The light and dark contrast in the military portrait is very well recognized.
The captain of the civic militia guards and 17 of its members are thought to have commissioned the painting and paid Rembrandt 1,600 guilders to paint The Night Watch. This was considered a great deal of money in that era. There are thirty-four figures that appear in The Night Watch.
The painting is an oil painting on a canvas that depicts militiamen lead by Willem van Ruytenburch and Frans Banning Cocq, located in the front area of the painting. At the time of the painting of The Night Watch, it was very common for militia units to commission painters for their portraits. At this time in history the 30 Years’ War from 1618-1648 was halfway through, and it was a time when the Netherlands sought independence from Spain. |
