16 Lesser-Known Facts About Rembrandt’s Iconic Painting ‘The Night Watch’

Finished in 1642, Rembrandt van Rijn's The Night Watch represents a pinnacle in his career, which includes over 600 paintings. It is widely hailed as the most exceptional portrait from the Dutch Baroque period. Here are some key details about this masterpiece.

1. The Night Watch has alternative titles that are far more detailed and descriptive.

Among these are Officers and Other Civic Guardsmen of District II of Amsterdam, under the command of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq and Lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburch; Militia Company of District II under the Command of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq; and The Shooting Company of Frans Banninck Cocq and Willem van Ruytenburch. While the specifics differ, the central focus remains on Cocq (distinguished by his red sash) and Ruytenburch (in yellow, standing beside Cocq), ensuring their prominence. It’s no surprise that the shorter title, The Night Watch, became widely adopted. 

2. Contrary to its name, The Night Watch does not depict a nighttime scene.

Over the following century, the nickname Night Watch gained more traction than the painting's lengthy formal titles. Interestingly, Rembrandt’s work was actually set during the day. The darkened background, often mistaken for night, was caused by aged and dirt-encrusted varnish. When the painting was restored in the 1940s, the varnish was cleaned off, but the nickname remained. 

3. The painting is a renowned demonstration of chiaroscuro.

Derived from the Italian term meaning “light-dark,” chiaroscuro describes art that skillfully uses contrasting shadows to add depth and a three-dimensional effect.

4. Rembrandt might have included a subtle self-portrait in The Night Watch.

Amid the lively gathering of notable figures, you might overlook him, but in the center of the painting, tucked behind a man in green and a guard wearing a metal helmet, a faint figure can be seen. Only his eye and a beret are discernible, leading experts to believe this subtle inclusion is Rembrandt’s way of embedding himself into his most renowned masterpiece. 

5. The small blonde girl isn’t part of the military—she serves as a mascot.

This seemingly out-of-place young girl holds a chicken with prominent claws and a firearm known as a klover. Both items were emblems of the Kloveniers, Amsterdam’s civic guard, the guild that commissioned the painting for their headquarters.

6. The Night Watch was originally intended to be part of a series of interconnected panels.

Rembrandt was among six artists commissioned by the Kloveniers to create group portraits of their members. Alongside Pickenoy, Bakker, Van der Helst, Van Sandrart, and Flinck, he was tasked with producing a piece that adhered to specific guidelines, ensuring all works could be displayed together as a cohesive frieze. These paintings were designed to align seamlessly, forming a unified interior concept within the guild’s meeting hall. However, Rembrandt deviated from the expected norms in both composition and color palette.

7. The Night Watch revolutionized the tradition of military portraits.

Unlike the static depictions of countless captains, colonels, and cadets in traditional military portraits, Rembrandt chose to portray his subjects in dynamic motion, breaking away from conventional artistic practices.

8. Rembrandt was not fully compensated for his work.

Following the completion of The Night Watch, Rembrandt entered a decade-long phase where he ceased creating portraits and significantly reduced his painting output. It has often been speculated that the guild members expected to pay for the portraits felt they were not prominently featured, leading them to withhold their contributions and tarnishing Rembrandt’s reputation. However, more recent research suggests that the Kloveniers were pleased with the unconventional artwork and proudly displayed it in their hall. As for Rembrandt’s post-Night Watch slump? It might simply have been a period of artistic reflection and recalibration.

9. The painting is more massive than you might imagine ...

Not only is The Night Watch Rembrandt’s most renowned work, but at nearly 12 feet in height and 14 feet in width, it also stands as his largest creation.

10. ... and it was even larger in its original form.

Seventy-three years after its completion, the enormous painting was relocated to Amsterdam’s town hall. Unfortunately, it was too large for the intended wall, leading to the canvas being trimmed—a common practice at the time. This alteration removed the top of the arch, the balustrade, the edge of the step, and two figures from the left side of the composition.

Thankfully, a smaller replica of the painting by Gerrit Lundens provides a clear glimpse of the original layout. 

11. The painting features its own built-in caption guide.

By the time The Night Watch was moved to the town hall and trimmed to fit, Rembrandt had long passed away. However, this was not the only unauthorized change made to his masterpiece. An unidentified individual added a shield to the archway, inscribed with the names of the 18 Kloveniers depicted in the painting. 

12. The Night Watch comes equipped with its own emergency exit.

To safeguard Rembrandt’s masterpiece from potential museum fires, the Rijksmuseum implemented a protective measure in 1934: a trapdoor featuring an escape slide, ensuring The Night Watch could be quickly moved to safety in emergencies. 

13. The Night Watch has endured three separate attacks.

On January 13, 1911, a struggling Navy cook attacked The Night Watch with a knife, allegedly as a protest against his joblessness. A second knife assault took place on September 14, 1975, carried out by a Dutch schoolteacher who claimed it was his divine duty to destroy the painting. Following this, the artwork was placed under constant surveillance. Despite this, on April 6, 1990, an unemployed Dutchman sprayed concentrated sulfuric acid on the masterpiece. Each time, meticulous restorations successfully repaired the damage, leaving almost no visible traces. 

14. For decades, it has been the centerpiece of one of the world’s most renowned museums.

When Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum was built in 1885, its design revolved around showcasing Rembrandt’s monumental masterpiece. After a decade-long renovation completed in 2013, the museum’s director Wim Pijbes proudly stated, "Everything has been transformed, except for The Night Watch. It remains the altarpiece of the Rijksmuseum, with the entire museum arranged around this stunning work of art."

15. Its return to public view was marked by a vibrant flash mob performance.

In a shopping mall, a large group of meticulously costumed performers assembled to recreate a live version of The Night Watch. As their tableau came together, a frame adorned with banners descended, proclaiming, "Onze helden zijn terug!" or "Our Heroes are Back!"

16. A cutting-edge restoration of The Night Watch unveiled hidden details of the masterpiece.

In 2021, a $3.4 million restoration project on The Night Watch was completed. Using thousands of high-resolution images and advanced laser scans, experts meticulously analyzed the painting, uncovering underlying paint layers and subtle details invisible to the naked eye. Additionally, the museum restored sections of the painting that had been cut off three centuries ago.