Getting started with the collection:
10 things about Rembrandt’s Night Watch
Rembrandt’s Night Watch is the most famous and most important painting in the Netherlands. Learn more about this masterpiece and discover some things you may not have known.
Night Watch, Militia Company of District II under the Command of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq, Rembrandt van Rijn, 1642 (detail)
Night Watch, Militia Company of District II under the Command of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq, Rembrandt van Rijn, 1642 (detail)
Picture of a part of the Night Watch after the 1975 knife attack, National Archives
The Night Watch rolled up. National Archives, Public Domain
Reconstruction made by Studio i2, for Herman Colenbrander
Copy after the Night Watch, Gerrit Lundens (attributed to), c. 1642 - c. 1655
The Night Watch on it's way to the Stedelijk Museum, 1898
Night Watch, Militia Company of District II under the Command of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq, Rembrandt van Rijn, 1642 (detail)
Night Watch, Militia Company of District II under the Command of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq, Rembrandt van Rijn, 1642 (detail)
Henricus Hubertus Mertens working on the Night Watch in 1946-47
01
The Night Watch is not the original title
Originally the painting had no title. We use Civic Guardsmen of District II under the Command of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq, known as the ‘Night Watch’ as the official title. The title Night Watch is first used in a document in 1797.
02
It is unknown how long Rembrandt worked on The Night Watch
We know he got the commission before December 1640, because of the death of one of the painted guardsmen. The painting was finished 1642. So it took him at least one year, but probably longer.
03
In 1975 the Night Watch was severely damaged
In 1911 the Night Watch had been attacked with a knife. This happened again in 1975 when someone inflicted 12 cuts in the canvas. In 1990 a man sprayed acid onto the painting. Due to the rapid intervention of a guard, only the varnish was damaged.
04
During the Second World War the painting was hidden in a cave
n September 1939, the Night Watch was evacuated from the Rijksmuseum, along with 30,000 other artworks. It was hidden in bunkers near the coast. In 1942, it was moved to a cave in the St. Pietersberg in Maastricht.
05
The Night Watch was placed in the Kloveniersdoelen, one of the headquarters of the Civic Guards
In 1715 it was moved to the Town Hall on the Dam, now the Royal Palace.
06
To fit the painting between two doors in the Town Hall, four pieces were cut off
The biggest piece was cut off from the left side. These pieces have never been found.
07
In 1898 The Night Watch was carried to the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam
It was moved to the other side of Museumplein for a Rembrandt exhibition. This exhibition was part of the celebrations of the inauguration of princess Wilhelmina as Queen of The Netherlands.
08
A magnificent detail is the shadow of hand Captain Frans Banning Cocq
The shadow falls on the mantle of Luitenant Willem van Ruytenburch. The coat of arms of the city of Amsterdam is placed between his thumb and fingers. Rembrandt shows that the city is safe in the hands of the militia.
09
On the painting a shot is fired
On the left the weapon is being loaded, in the middle the weapon is being fired and on the right someone is cleaning the weapon.
10
Rembrandt’s Night Watch has been treated at least 25 times
Operation Night Watch is the most extensive and technologically advanced research in the painting's history. This detailed study is necessary to determine the best treatment plan so we can preserve it for future generations.