Discover the stories behind Rembrandt's masterpiece

Experience the Night Watch

The Night Watch, Rembrandt van Rijn, 1642

The Night Watch, Rembrandt van Rijn, 1642

oil on canvas, h 379.5cm × w 453.5cm × w 337kg More details

Rembrandt's largest and most famous painting was made for one of the three headquarters of Amsterdam's civic guard. These groups of civilian soldiers defended the city from attack. Rembrandt was the first to paint all of the figures in a civic guard piece in action. The captain, dressed in black, gives the order to march out. The guardsmen are getting into formation. Rembrandt used the light to focus on particular details, like the captain's gesturing hand and the young girl in the foreground. She was the company mascot. The nickname Night Watch originated much later, when the painting was thought to represent a nocturnal scene.

On display in Nightwatch gallery Visit via the The best of the Rijksmuseum tour Visit via the Rembrandt tour

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