Rembrandt and Rijks Museum, Amsterdam

On my visit to Amsterdam in March, I viewed The Night Watch painting by Rembrandt in the Rijksmuseum. As the photo shows, it's a huge painting: 363x437cm (143x172"). Rembrandt finished it in 1642. It's true title is The Company of Frans Banning Cocq and Willem van Ruytenburch, but it's better known simply as the Night Watch. (A company being a militia guard). The composition of the painting was very different for the period. Instead of showing the figures in a neat orderly fashion, where everyone was given the same prominence and space on the canvas, Rembrandt has painted them as a busy group in action.

Rembrandt: [1642] Knight Watch Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam [Visited 1 April 2016]

The details on the painting was amazing to see, especially the whites and golds. The paintings in the gallery goes to show just what perfection people can achieve with the more time available. Without the interruptions of social media, work, etc etc. Rembrandt’s palette included yellow ocher, burnt sienna, burnt umber, white, black, and a brownish or orangey red such as cadmium red deep. It was nice to see these colours used in oils as apposed to watercolours which is my medium.

The quality and marks made in the paintings in the Rijksmuseum allowed me to assess my own work and at the time of viewing them I thought I may like to try painting in oils. I need to perfect my watercolour painting first as I still have a long way to go. I was amazed at the detail on the animals and the gold thread on the boots and clothing. The eyes almost look as if they were staring back at you. Viewing a painting from one of the 'Old Masters' gives you a surreal sensation. I am in Aw of these paintings.

On viewing the actual easel that Rembrandt used in the studio I was curious as to how a painting so huge could be painted at such a large size on this size easel but apparently, the paintings are split over several canvases and just placed together then the joints painted over.

Whilst at the museum I also saw the Fashion Show. Cat Walk which displayed ladies fashion through time. Amazing attention to detail were applied to these clothes. The hand stitched embroidery was amazing.