"Art and culture in The Netherlands" Netherlands Travelogue by Dutchnatasja

Netherlands Travel Guide: 39,848 reviews and 83,234 photos

Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669)

Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn is certainly the most famous of Holland's seventeenth-century painters. He was born in 1606 in Leiden, the fifth son of the miller Harmen Gerritsz. van Rijn. After attending Latin SchoolLatin SchoolThis was what the schools of the early Middle Ages founded by bishops or monasteries (and later on by municipalities) were called. In these schools the humanities or liberal arts were taught: grammar, rhetoric, oratory, arithmetic, geometry, astronomy and music. Some of these schools focused on basic reading and writing skills; others offered a kind of secondary education. In the 19th century the Latin School was increasingly replaced by the Gymnasium that also taught Greek; modern languages and the sciences were also taught - subjects that had virtually no place in the curriculum of the Latin School. he registered in 1620 at Leiden University, although he never actually graduated. Rembrandt studied under the Leiden painter Jacob van Swanenburch and under Pieter Lastman in Amsterdam. It was through Lastman that he discovered the powerful contrast of light and dark of Caravaggio and his followers. Back in Leiden he set up together with Jan Lievens as an independent artist, with his own studio and his first pupil: Gerard Dou.

Rembrandt and his famous work

De Nachtwacht (The Night Watch)

The Night Watch, the most famous painting in the Rijksmuseum, actually has another title: the 'Company of Frans Banning Cocq and Willem van Ruytenburch'. The picture is a militia painting: a group portrait of a division of the civic guard. Rembrandt depicted the group of militiamen in an original way. He did not paint them in neat row or sitting at their annual banquet, rather, he recorded a moment: a group of militiamen have just moved into action and are about to march off.

What is so special about The Night Watch?
Rembrandt threw all the conventions regarding a group portrait out the window when he painted The Night Watch: instead of posing, the guards are in action. They are not standing neatly in a row, either; they are mixed in with one another, which makes it difficult to identify the guards in the background. The painting can be compared to a photograph: had the photographer clicked the shutter a mere second later, the group would have looked completely different.
Wasn't The Night Watch damaged in the past?
The Night Watch has been damaged several times. The first incident was in the 18th century when pieces of the painting were snipped from the left side and the top - that way, the painting fit perfectly on the wall of its new home, the Amsterdam City Hall (now Palace) on the Dam. The second incident was in 1976, when a museum visitor took a knife to the painting. In 1985 the painting was damaged with acid.

Year:
1642

Technique:
Oil on canvas

Dimensions:
363 x 437 cm

Art and culture in The Netherlands - Netherlands

Page Updated Mar 7, 2008
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Comments (13)

deecat Mar 13, 2009 at 7:47 AM Report Abuse

Marvelous! Since I love architecture, flowers, cheese, I think I would enjoy Netherlands. Thanks for info about "food from Wall", traditional costumes, local customs, including Queen's Day.
kelnsha Jul 2, 2007 at 2:46 AM Report Abuse

Nice photos! We miss Keukenhof. Thanks for sharing!
pieter_jan_v Dec 24, 2006 at 11:00 AM Report Abuse

Wat een leuke pagina; goede foto's ook! PJ
barryg23 May 5, 2006 at 12:44 PM Report Abuse

It's been 3 years since I visited the Netherlands and after reading your page I really want to return again.
Sibbella Apr 19, 2006 at 11:27 AM Report Abuse

I will definitely use your tips on my up coming trip...have a great day and wonderful site and pictures.
Balmukund Mar 27, 2006 at 9:04 AM Report Abuse

the sunset captured is really beautiful
whitecliff62 Dec 27, 2005 at 2:57 AM Report Abuse

The Netherlands sure is a beautiful country, so colourful with the bright flowers, and that cheese market is superb.
vyxxyn Dec 16, 2005 at 9:39 AM Report Abuse

Dutch sausages - A Dutchman once told me the sausages contain parts of animals that normal people won't eat - eyeballs, entrails, guts... is that true???
LoriPori May 27, 2005 at 12:21 PM Report Abuse

We will be in Breda this summer. Perhaps we will try the tapas at De Corenmaet. Your Esmee is adorable. I have a cute boy cat named Luke, who is also very spoiled.
Eric-Sabin May 25, 2005 at 12:24 PM Report Abuse

Esme is a beautiful kitty...such wise caring eyes!