Picture Day Friday: Rembrandt's Night Watch

In 1642, Rembrandt painted the Militia Company of District II under the Command of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq. It is popularly known as the "Night Watch."

Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum's Notes on the painting:
"Rembrandt’s largest, most famous canvas was made for the Arquebusiers guild hall. This was one of several halls of Amsterdam’s civic guard, the city’s militia and police. Rembrandt was the first to paint figures in a group portrait actually doing something. The captain, dressed in black, is telling his lieutenant to start the company marching. 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."


[Image courtesy of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Click above to see a larger view.]