RIJKSMUSEUM , The Night Watch Rembrandt

The most famous work in the museum is the Militia Company of District II under the Command of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq, better known as The Night Watch, painted in 1642 by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, considered one of the greatest visual artists in history. Born in 1606, his works include drawings, paintings and engravings, demonstrating a prolific, innovative talent for all three techniques.

This painting is famous for its huge size, the dramatic use of light and shade and the perception of motion in what would traditionally have been a static military group portrait.

The title it is best known by may be misleading: it is not in fact a watch, and it is not taking place at night, as we can see from the rays of light illuminating the characters.

What the painting shows are the members of the “Company of the Arquebusiers” setting out for a festive parade through the streets of Amsterdam. In Rembrandt’s time, these peaceful citizen militia companies served virtually no military purpose....