And then he looked around.
You have the right to consider others
just taking a good look at yourself.
And in succession they went in front of him
pharmacists, soldiers, rat catchers, usurers, writers, merchants -
Holland looked at him
like in 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 what significance the famous "Night Watch" has for the study of military affairs during the Thirty Years' War. And, yes, indeed, in comparison with Teniers's Guardhouse, as well as all the other Guardian's, this canvas seems to provide much more information. There are more figures on it, all of them are given in motion, but 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 for its time group ceremonial portrait, 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 name of Rembrandt's painting is different, although in fact it is identical to it, because it sounds like this: "Speech by the rifle company of Captain Frans Banning Kok and Lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburg". 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 incorrectly say that muses are silent during wars, Rembrandt's muses were by no means silent. The fame of him as an outstanding master already in 1632 spread throughout Amsterdam, as soon as he finished work on the group portrait "Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Tulpa". And after him in 1635 was painted "Feast of Belshazzar" and the picture awaited new success, as well as portraits of his wife Saskia in luxurious outfits, including the painting "The Prodigal Son in a Tavern" (1635). He was spoken of as a master of chiaroscuro, whose faces seem alive, as well as the gestures of the characters in 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. No one canceled it, and, although the war and Rembrandt had never intersected before, it so happened that it affected him in a very profound way.
And it so happened that in many cities of the Netherlands, including Amsterdam, at this 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 belligerent, and not so young. Nevertheless, the "fighters" of these detachments were proud of their military status, organized exercises, went on patrols, in a word, in their own way protected their hometowns. All help to the military, right? But since the people in these detachments were mostly well-to-do (after all, they bought weapons for their own money!), They wished to immortalize themselves in a group ceremonial portrait.
In Amsterdam, the customer for such a portrait was the local Shooting Society - one of the detachments of the shooters guild of the Netherlands, whose members wanted to decorate the new building of their headquarters with group portraits of all six companies. The main hall had six tall windows overlooking the Amstel River and was at that time 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 pictures of impressive size 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 large and one person could not physically complete them all in a fairly short time. We invited six according to the number of pictures. Together with Rembrandt, among them were his students, and followers of Govert Flink and Jacob Bakker, Nicholas Elias Pikenoy, German Joachim von Sandrart and the best artist of Amsterdam in this genre Bartholomeus van der Gelst - the master of group portrait. Rembrandt got to paint a portrait of a company of 18 riflemen of Captain Frans Banning Kok. In fact, little was required of Rembrandt - to portray all these 18 "policemen" as photographers do today when they shoot schoolchildren at proms, and guests at weddings: in the front row - the groom and the bride, or the class teacher, or - as in this case, the captain of the company with his lieutenant, and everyone else around. Low in the first row, high in the second, and the whole detachment could be put under the arch (which, by the way, Rembrandt did!), On the step available at the exit from under it, and then ten arrows below and nine above would be very visible good, except that the hind legs would have been cut. I personally, for example, would have done so, but I would also suggest that the "fighters" of the company cast lots so that none of them would be offended: the captain and lieutenant in the middle, this is understandable. But all the rest should be put in their places by fate itself. However, Rembrandt for some reason did not do so, although all other painters did exactly the same.
Painting traditions contrary to
He violated all the canons of a static ceremonial portrait, although art critics unanimously note that Rembrandt created a very dynamic and lively and vivid composition. For example, the play of light and shadow so beloved by him is clearly visible, because the musketeers depicted on the canvas just come out of the shadows onto the square, brightly lit by the sun.
No static! The picture is filled not only with light: there is a lot of movement in it! We clearly see that Captain Banning Kok gave an order to Lieutenant Reutenbürg, and he repeated it, which made all the people on the canvas start to move. Here is the standard-bearer, who unfolds the company banner, here is the drummer, he beats the drum, and the dog barks at him, but in the crowd, it is not clear where he has come from, a boy in a helmet is running somewhere, and for some reason he has a powder-flask horn hanging from 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 he, besides 18 customers, drew 16 "free" characters on it, nobody knows. Among them, for example, is the same drummer. He was not a member of the rifle company, 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 chicken and pistol
But this is what the girl in a golden dress, which the artist depicted in the background on the left side of the picture, does in the picture, 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 see her dad out "on the hike." But then why on the belt of this golden-haired girl hangs a wheeled pistol and a still dead chicken (although it may be a rooster), and why does she have a wine horn in her left hand? Besides, maybe this is not a girl at all (she has a very grown-up 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 this opinion was expressed by a number of researchers. Therefore, she also has a pistol on her belt. But … why is the chicken drawn then? It is known that at that time the crossed legs of either a falcon or a hawk were depicted on the coat of arms of the Dutch shooters. What if this is a hint that all this "patrol" is nothing more than a "game of war", and all the courage of the depicted musketeers of another emblem is simply unworthy? That is, before us is nothing more than a picturesque … a 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 Reutenbürg. For some reason, Rembrandt could not find the right position of his protazan, with which he points the direction of movement to his detachment.
Spicy shadow
There is one more funny moment: the shadow of Captain Kok's hand lies right on the intimate place of Lieutenant Reutenburg. What is this: a hint of their "particularly friendly relationship"? It is clear that you cannot prove it today. In addition, at that time the death penalty was imposed on the death penalty for love between men in Holland. But Rembrandt portrayed it for some reason. And you can imagine what his friends said to the poor lieutenant at a friendly banquet with beer and what laughter there was. And Rembrandt went for it? Didn't you be careful? And again why he did this, today we can only guess.
There is another secret of this picture. It is possible that Rembrandt also depicted himself on it and … placing his face behind the right shoulder of Jan Ockersen, an arrow in a cylindrical hat. But again - who can know for sure? There are much more myths associated with this picture than exact knowledge about it!
Payment myths
And by the way, there is 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 Banning Cock's company had 16 of them. Therefore, he should have received at least 1,600 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 full-length in the foreground, had to pay, had to be much higher. Secondly, those who ended up in the "backyard" or whose face was not very clearly visible, could refuse to pay altogether - they say, "you can see me badly, and I will not give money!" And although this is not documented, there is a myth that some of the shooters refused to pay Rembrandt. There is also a third myth that the "greedy Rembrandt" demanded payment depending on the position in which this or that shooter was depicted on the canvas. So the exact amount received by the artist for "Night Watch" is also not known to us.
Watch "night" or "day"?
Well, the painted picture was placed in the hall of the Shooting Society building along with the others, and there it hung for almost 200 years before art critics of the 19th century were able to determine what the great Rembrandt painted it. The second discovery concerned the timing of the action. Due to the fact that the background of the canvas is very dark, she was given the name "Night Watch". And in all reference books, catalogs and albums it was exactly under this name and passed until during the restoration work in 1947 it was discovered that it was simply covered with a thick layer of soot from candles. And when it was removed from the canvas, it turned out that it was not happening at night, but … during the day. Judging by one of the shadows around 2 o'clock in the afternoon. So, at least this riddle of the picture was solved!
By the way, numerous adventures took place with this canvas. So, in the 18th century, it was cut off so that the painting could fit in the new hall, and the two arrows on it eventually disappeared. But we know what it looked like from the very beginning, because back in the 17th century Gerrit Lundens made a copy of The Watch (which is now on display in the London National Gallery), and it is on it that you can see the lost parts of the painting. During the war, the painting was hidden in a secret vault in one of the caves in Mount St. Peter in Maastricht. But she still did not die and today is exhibited at the State Museum in Amsterdam. Even in cropped form, it impresses with its dimensions - 363 by 437 cm, so it must be viewed from a distance. Moreover, the "Night Watch" was also attacked three times. The first time they cut a piece out of it, then they cut it with a knife, and the third time they doused it with acid. But fortunately, after each such attempt, Rembrandt's creation was restored!
"Sweet couple": captain and lieutenant
Who were the Musketeers in the painting? Thanks to the record on its back, we know their names, but historians have been able to find quite a lot of information about the commanders of this company. So it is known about Captain Banning Koke that, being only the son of a wealthy pharmacist, he managed to get an education and a doctorate in law, and besides, he also married the daughter of one of the most influential and wealthy politicians in Amsterdam, which immediately turned him from a simple burgher to patrician, since, together with his wife, Kok received an aristocratic title. His military career was also successful: in the city militia, he became first a lieutenant, and then a captain, well, and in the city he served as the chief commissioner for the conclusion of marriage contracts.
Lieutenant van Ruutenburg 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 greenery, became so rich that he began to live in a luxurious palazzo on Herengracht Street and dressed in expensive clothes. For example, in the picture he is wearing a 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!
Experts believe that Rembrandt very subtly managed to convey on his canvas the features of the hierarchy among the Dutch nobility: although the lieutenant of the shooters is discharged to smithereens, and the captain of the detachment is dressed in black, he is deliberately depicted as shorter than his superior. And the shadow of the captain's hand, lying in one "interesting place" on the lieutenant's suit in the groin area, does not necessarily indicate their homosexual relations (which, as you know, were punished by death in Holland), but only emphasizes his status and dominance "in team ".
A sad turn
It would seem that such an impressive picture should have further raised 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 the failure of this work of his that caused these sad consequences. However, what exactly was this failure? Wasn't the picture accepted? They took it and hung it where it was supposed to hang! That many didn't like it? Yes, they talk about it, but how many? After all, the people who ordered it weren't poor, and if they didn't like it so much, they could have burned it in the backyard. However, they didn't. Therefore, a number of experts believe that the reasons for the cooling to Rembrandt's work lie in a different plane: they say, he was ahead of his time, “they did not understand him,” and the tastes of the public changed at that time … But even if this is so, then it was 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.
