NL-2674044 The Night Watch

The painting may be more properly titled by its long since forgotten name “The Company of captain Frans Banning Cocq and lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburch preparing to march out.” In the 18th century the painting became known as the Night Watch (Dutch: De Nachtwacht). It is prominently displayed in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam as the best known painting in its collection. The Night Watch is one of the most famous paintings in the world.

It was painted in 1642 by Rembrandt van Rijn. The painting was commissioned (around 1639) by Captain Banning Cocq and seventeen members of his Kloveniers (civic militia guards).  In the painting Captain Frans Banning Cocq  is dressed in black with a red sash and his lieutenant, Willem van Ruytenburch is dressed in yellow with a white sash.

The painting is renowned for three characteristics: its colossal size (363 cm × 437 cm (11.91 ft × 14.34 ft)), the effective use of light and shadow and the perception of motion in what would have traditionally been a static military portrait.

This postcard came from Robin (6 October 2014) Postcrossing.