The team of researchers of the "Night Watch" operation at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam
The creative processes of history's greatest artists are frequently a mystery unless they left behind notes for posterity. That's starting to change: experts are now able to unearth features in paintings that the artist never meant for the public to see, thanks to modern technology. The Night Watch, a masterwork by Rembrandt, is an example of this. The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam has discovered a preliminary sketch of the subject that the painter traced straight into the canvas.
Militia Company of District II under the Command of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq, also known as The Night Watch, was painted by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1642. Instead of a static portrait, the Dutch painter depicted a moving military company. It's his largest work, and it's regarded as the Dutch Golden Age's pinnacle achievement.
Experts have long thought that Rembrandt drew initial sketches of his paintings on the same canvas that he would later paint on, and the new discoveries back up their suspicions. As part of Operation Night Watch, experts at the Rijksmuseum have been studying Rembrandt's most complex work for the past two and a half years. They were able to investigate the canvas beneath the paint thanks to advanced imaging equipment, which revealed an early version of the painting created in beige paint with a high chalk content.
Hitherto hidden sketch discovered during the examination of Rembrandt's Night Watch at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam
"The discovery of the sketch represents a breakthrough in this research," Taco Dibbits, director of the Rijksmuseum, said in a statement. "It is fascinating to see Rembrandt searching for the right composition. We have discovered the genesis of The Night Watch." The discovery shows us how the painting evolved from conception to the final product. In the sketch, Claes van Cruijsbergen's helmet sports feathers that were omitted from the painting. The artist also adjusted the leg positions of the military men and added and removed weapons as he refined his work.
In addition to studying the painting, Operation Night Watch is using technology to restore it to its original state. Earlier in 2021, the researchers used A.I. to reconstruct sections missing from the scene. Other parts have deteriorated or faded over the centuries, and the conservation team at the Rijksmuseum hopes to have the painting fully restored by early next year.
Jean Dubreil
