"Night Watch" is canceled. Looking at Rembrandt’s canvas
Here it is, "Night Watch" by Rembrandt van Rijn
And then he looked around.
You have the right to consider others
just having a good look at yourself.
And they went in front of him
pharmacists, soldiers, rat-catchers,
loan sharks, writers, merchants -
Holland was looking at him
like a mirror. And the mirror managed
truthfully - and for many centuries -
capture Holland and what
the same thing unites
all these - old and young - faces;
and the name of this common thing is light.
Joseph Brodsky. Rembrandt
You have the right to consider others
just having a good look at yourself.
And they went in front of him
pharmacists, soldiers, rat-catchers,
loan sharks, writers, merchants -
Holland was looking at him
like a mirror. And the mirror managed
truthfully - and for many centuries -
capture Holland and what
the same thing unites
all these - old and young - faces;
and the name of this common thing is light.
Joseph Brodsky. Rembrandt
Pictures tell ... Many readers of “VO” wanted to know how important the famous “Night Watch” is for studying the military affairs of the Thirty Years War. And, yes, indeed, in comparison with the Teniers' Sentry, as well as all other Sentries, this canvas seems to give much more information. There are more figures on it, they are all given in motion, however, in this case, not everything is so simple, and this canvas is interesting in a completely different way than other canvases on a military theme.
War is war, and talent is talent!
To begin with, the famous “Night Watch” is a large canvas, which is a traditional group front portrait for its time, in fact, something like a modern photograph of school graduates or employees of a large company with the loud name “Our Team”. Only now the picture of Rembrandt has a different name, although in essence it is identical to it, because it sounds like this: "The performance of the rifle company of Captain Frans Bunning Cock and Lieutenant Willem van Reutenburg." It was written by him in 1642, already at the end of the Thirty Years War, which lasted from 1618 to 1648. It was a difficult time for Europe, but for Rembrandt himself - a period of his success. That is, they say it is wrong that muses are silent during wars, Rembrandt's muses were by no means silent. The fame of him as an extraordinary master already spread in Amsterdam in 1632, as soon as he had finished work on the group portrait “The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Tulp”. And after him in 1635 was written “Feast of Belshazzar” and the picture was waiting for new success, as well as portraits of his wife Saskia in luxurious outfits, including the painting “The Prodigal Son in the Tavern” (1635). They spoke of him as a master of chiaroscuro, whose faces seemed alive, as well as the gestures of the characters of his paintings. That is, it was at this time that he became famous, rich, and acquired students and followers.
To decorate the "General Staff"
However, the war continued. Nobody canceled it, and although the war and Rembrandt had not intersected anywhere else, it happened so that she touched it in a very thorough way.
And it happened so that in many cities of the Netherlands, including Amsterdam, at that time in many cities their inhabitants created militia units in which everyone knew each other and where mutual assistance and comradely support reigned, although people were often there not too warlike, and not so young. Nevertheless, the "fighters" of these detachments were proud of their military status, arranged exercises, went on patrols, in a word, guarded their native cities in their own way. All help to the military, right? But since the people in these units were mostly prosperous (because weapon they bought for their money!), then they wanted to immortalize themselves in a group dress portrait.
Copy of the Night Watch by Herrit Lundens. Uncut parts of the original painting are visible.
In Amsterdam, the customer of such a portrait was the local Shooting Society - one of the units of the Guild of Shooters of the Netherlands, whose members wanted to decorate the new building of their headquarters with group portraits of all its six companies. The main hall had six high windows overlooking the Amstel River, and at that time was the most spacious and presentable room in all of Amsterdam. But the walls of the hall were empty. And then it was decided to place on them impressive size paintings with group portraits of the shooters of six companies, so that their glory would never fade. They decided to give orders to different artists, since the canvases were great and one person could not perform them physically in a fairly short time. Six were invited in the number of paintings. Together with Rembrandt, among them were his students and followers Govert Flink and Jacob Bakker, Nicholas Elias Pikenoy, German Joachim von Zandrart and the best artist of Amsterdam in this genre, Bartolomeus van der Gelst - the master of this particular group portrait. Rembrandt got to paint a portrait of a company of 18 shooters of Captain Frans Bunning Coc. In fact, Rembrandt needed a little - to portray all these 18 “policemen” as photographers do today when they shoot schoolchildren at graduation parties, and guests at weddings: in the front row there is a bride and groom, or a class teacher, or - how in this case, the company captain with his lieutenant, and everyone else around. Low in the front row, high in the second, and the whole detachment could be put under the arch (which, by the way, Rembrandt did!), On the step at the exit from under it, and then ten arrows at the bottom and nine at the top would be very visible well, except that the legs would have been cut in the back. For example, I personally would have done so, but I would also have suggested that the "fighters" of the company cast lots so that no one would be offended by them: the captain and lieutenant in the middle, this is understandable. But let everyone else in their places let fate itself arrange it. However, for some reason, Rembrandt did wrong, although all the other painters did just the same.
The format for cropping the canvas
Picture against tradition
He violated all the canons of a static ceremonial portrait, although art historians unanimously note that Rembrandt created a very dynamic and vibrant composition. For example, the play of light and shadow so beloved by him is clearly visible, because the musketeers depicted by him on the canvas just come out of the shadow into an area brightly lit by the sun.
No stats! The picture is filled not only with light: it has a lot of movement! We clearly see that Captain Banning Kok gave the order to Lieutenant Reutenburg, and he repeated it, which is why all the people on the canvas came into motion. Here is the standard bearer who unfolds the company banner, here is the drummer, he hits the drum, and the dog barks at him, but in the crowd it’s not clear where the boy in the helmet came from somewhere, and for some reason a powder-horn hangs on his neck. It can be seen that even the details of the shooters' clothes are in motion, so skillfully depicted all this on Rembrandt on his canvas. But why, besides 18 customers, he drew 16 “free” characters on it, no one knows. Among them, for example, is the same drummer. He was not listed in the company of shooters, but it is known that urban drummers were usually invited to participate in various events. So his figure has at least some conceivable explanation.
Girl with a chicken and a gun
But this is what the girl in the golden dress does in the picture, which the artist depicted in the background on the left side of the picture does no one knows how, in fact, no one knows why she is here. The first thought that comes to mind: this is the daughter of one of the shooters who came to spend her dad “on a hike”. But then why is there a wheeled pistol and a still dead chicken (though it may be a cock) on the belt of this golden-haired girl, and why is there a wine horn in her left hand? Besides, maybe this is not a girl at all (she really has an adult face), but ... a dwarf? But then there are even more questions.
If this is a girl, then the "innocent child" could serve as a kind of "talisman" of the detachment, and such an opinion was expressed by a number of researchers. Therefore, she also has a gun on her belt. But ... then why is the chicken drawn? It is known that at the time, the arms of the Dutch shooters depicted crossed paws of either a falcon or a hawk. What if this is a hint that this whole “patrol” is nothing more than a “game of war”, and all the courage of the musketeers depicted in another emblem is simply unworthy? That is, before us is nothing more than a picturesque ... parody? Who knows who knows…
By the way, the x-ray of the canvas showed that the largest number of alterations relates to the figure of Lieutenant Reutenburg. For some reason, Rembrandt could not find the desired position of his protazan, with which he indicates the direction of movement of his detachment.
The girl with the chicken on the left and the indecent position of the hand are on the right.
Piquant shadow
There is another funny moment: the shadow of Captain Kok’s hand lies directly on the intimate place of Lieutenant Reutenburg. What is this: a hint of their “especially friendly relations”? It’s clear that today you can’t prove it. In addition, at the time of Holland, the death penalty relied on love between men. But Rembrandt for some reason portrayed this. And one can imagine what the poor fellow told his lieutenant at a friendly feast with beer and what laughter there was. And did Rembrandt go for it? Do not beware? And again, why did he do this, today we can only guess.
There is another secret to this picture. It is possible that Rembrandt also depicted himself on it and ... placing his face behind Jan Okkersen's right shoulder, an arrow in a cylindrical hat. But again - who can know for sure? The myths associated with this picture are much more than accurate knowledge of it!
Payment Myths
And by the way, and another myth, the myth of payment. Usually there are such numbers based on “logic”: it is known that Rembrandt took 100 guilders from each of the shooters depicted in the picture. And in the company of Bunning Coc, there were 16. Therefore, he should have received at least 1600 guilders for her. But this calculation is nothing more than one of the legends associated with this picture. Firstly, the amount that the captain and lieutenant, depicted in full growth in the foreground, should have been paid much more. Secondly, those who got to the "backyard" or whose face was not very visible, could refuse to pay at all - they say, "I’m seen badly, and I won’t give money!" And although this has not been documented, there is a myth that some of the shooters refused to pay Rembrandt. There is a third myth that the “greedy Rembrandt” demanded payment depending on the position in which the gunner was depicted on the canvas. So the exact amount received by the artist for "Night Watch", we also do not know.
Here she is this ill-fated chicken, and a pistol is visible behind her
Watch "night" or "day"?
Well, the painted picture was placed in the hall of the building of the Shooting Society along with the rest, and there it hung for almost 200 years before art historians of the 1947th century could determine what the great Rembrandt painted. The second discovery concerned the time of action. Due to the fact that the background of the canvas is very dark, they gave it the name "Night Watch". And in all directories, catalogs and albums, it was under this name that it passed until, during the restoration work of 2, it was discovered that it was simply covered with a thick layer of soot from candles. And when she was removed from the canvas, it turned out that the matter was not happening at night, but ... in the afternoon. Judging by one of the shadows at about XNUMX o’clock in the afternoon. So, at least this riddle of the picture was solved!
The shape of the shadow from the characters in the picture indicates that the action takes place at 2 pm
By the way, with this canvas there were also numerous adventures. So, in the XVIII century it was cut so that the picture could fit in a new room, and two arrows on it eventually disappeared. But we know how it looked from the very beginning, since back in the 363th century Gerrit Lundens made a copy of The Watch (which is currently exhibited at the London National Gallery), and this is where you can see the lost parts of the picture. During the war years, the picture was hidden in a secret vault in one of the caves in Mount St. Petra in Maastricht. But she still did not die and today is exhibited at the State Museum of Amsterdam. Even in cropped form, it impresses with its dimensions - 437 by XNUMX cm, so you need to consider it from a distance. Moreover, the Night Watch was also attacked three times. The first time a piece was cut from it, then it was cut with a knife, and the third time it was doused with acid. But fortunately, after each such attempt, Rembrandt’s creation was able to be restored!
But this shooter clearly does not have to handle weapons and holds a burning wick too close to the powder shelf! And the question is: why did Rembrandt write this? Laugh at the hapless arrows?
Sweet Couple: Captain and Lieutenant
Who were the musketeers in the picture? Thanks to the record on its reverse side, we know their names, but historians managed to find quite a lot of information about the commanders of this company. So about Captain Bunning Bok, it’s known that, being just the son of a wealthy pharmacist, he managed to get an education and a doctorate in law, and also married the daughter of one of Amsterdam’s most influential and wealthy politicians, which immediately turned him from a simple a burgher in patrician, since with his wife Kok received an aristocratic title. His military career was also successful: in the city police, he first became a lieutenant and then captain, well, and in the city he held the post of chief commissioner for concluding marriage contracts.
Captain and lieutenant cast in bronze. In 2005, on the occasion of the anniversary of Rembrandt in 2006, 22 figures of the members of the Watch were cast in bronze in Amsterdam. Russian sculptors Mikhail Drones and Alexander Taratynov did a truly colossal job, and extremely accurately reproduced all the items of clothing and weapons depicted in the picture. True, they did not strive for photographic accuracy in depicting her characters and brought their own vision to the picture.
Lt. van Reuthenburg is also a living witness to the effectiveness of the then social elevators. He was born into a greengrocer’s family, but his family, selling greens, became so rich that he began to live in a luxurious palazzo on Herengrakht Street and dressed in expensive clothes. For example, in the picture he is dressed in tunic made of yellow embossed leather, a light felt hat, and he has cavalry boots on his feet, although he is an infantryman, not a cavalryman!
Rembrandt and the heroes of The Night Watch on Rembrandt Square in Amsterdam in 2006 (sculptors A. Taratynov, M. Dronov)
Experts believe that Rembrandt very subtly managed to convey on his canvas the peculiarities of hierarchy among the Dutch Nobility: although the lieutenant of the shooters is discharged to the smithereens and the captain of the detachment is dressed in black, he is deliberately depicted as being shorter than his superior. And the captain’s shadow, lying on one “interesting place” on the lieutenant’s suit in the groin area, does not necessarily indicate their homosexual relationship (as it is known, the death penalty in Holland), but merely emphasizes his status and dominance “in team ".
Sad turn
It would seem that such an impressive picture would have to further enhance the authority of Rembrandt as a painter. However, it was after its writing that a truly tragic turn took place in his life. Students leave him, he stops receiving orders. Again, there is a legend that it was precisely the failure of this work that caused these sad consequences. However, what exactly was this failure? Didn’t they accept the picture? They took and hanged where she was supposed to hang! What many did not like her? Yes, they talk about it, but are there really so many? In the end, the people who ordered her were not poor and, if they didn’t like her so much, they could burn her in the backyard. However, they did not. Therefore, a number of experts believe that the reasons for cooling to Rembrandt’s work lie in a different plane: they say that he overtook his time, “he wasn’t understood”, and the tastes of the public just changed at that time ... But even if this is so, then after “ Night Watch ”, the artist’s career went down quite sharply. On the other hand, it was during the last two decades of his life that Rembrandt became famous as an outstanding portrait painter.
One of the fun era of the Internet. Any picture you can draw anything that your soul wants
To be continued ...
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