Fine Canvas Art Blog

The Night Watch by Rembrandt, 1642

Paintings (Reproductions) / Rembrandt - 2 years ago - troycapc

Below is a reproduction of “De Nachtwacht” by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn of 1642. This is one of the greatest paintings of all time. Its proper title is “The Company of Frans Banning Cocq and Willem van Rutenburch” and it is on display in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The painting is known for its large size, effective use of Chiaroscuro (the dramatic juxtaposition of extremities in lightness and dark) and the perception of motion that Rembrandt was able to engender within it. It was commissioned by the captain and members of a company of civic guards.  It was quite fashionable at the time for such groups to have joint portraits done.

Dimensionality

In “The Night Watch,” the visual effect is almost three dimensional as Rembrandt shows thrust and sweep in the placement of hands, arms and spears in the image. Part of the effect is due to the masterful use of Chiaroscuro. There is a popular myth that this painting had a poor reception which marked the decline in Rembrandt’s work in the 1640′s. Though there is no evidence for the story as the painting was very well received, shortly afterward Rembrandt’s work did in fact become less popular.

The Artist

Many consider Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn one of the greatest of all painters. He was born on July 15, 1606 in Leiden to a wealthy family of millers and bakers. He left University at the age of fourteen and four years later opened a school with his friend Jan Lievens. He came to the attention of Prince Frederick Hendrik in 1629 and moved to Amsterdam two years later.  From this earlier period comes his famous Abraham and Isaac of 1634.  Rembrandt soon became the most famous of all the Dutch masters and much of his popularity came from his uncanny ability to make his merchant subjects appear heroic. He gave social drama to his corporate portraits, of which “The Night Watch” is the most famous.

Decline

The decline in the artist’s fortunes could possibly be attributed to the growing simplicity of his style, or it may have been his reaction to growing criticism of his work. Newly at peace with Spain, Dutch tastes became more extravagant just when Rembrandt’s style was becoming more refined.  This can be seen in his “Head of Christ” of 1652.   He grew further out of favor and was bankrupt in 1656 after the death of his wife and three out of four of his children.

In Rembrandt’s last years he lived in reduced circumstances and worked as an employee of his son’s art dealership. His work for the Amsterdam City Hall, the “Conspiracy of Claudius Civilis,” was rejected in 1662.  Yet from that same year come one of his greatest works, “The Return of the Prodigal Son.” Regardless, Rembrandt was still renown throughout Europe, and Cosimo de’ Medici, grand duke of Tuscany, visited him in 1667. His son Titus died in 1668 and Rembrandt himself on October 4, 1669. He was buried in an unmarked grave.