TheOldMastersPrintsThe Night Watch by Rembrandt: meaning, location and key facts
The Night Watch is an oil on canvas by Rembrandt, painted in 1642. It measures 363 × 437 cm and is held at the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.
Key facts
| Artist | Rembrandt |
|---|---|
| Date | 1642 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 363 × 437 cm (height × width) |
| Museum | Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam |
| Style | Dutch Golden Age |
| Data source | Wikidata (Q219831) · Wikipedia |
What it shows
Its real title is “The Company of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq and Lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburch”. It is a group portrait of an Amsterdam civic militia commissioned for its headquarters, but Rembrandt turned it into a scene in motion: the captain gives the order to march, muskets are loaded and a drum rolls.
Among the militiamen stands a brightly lit girl with a chicken hanging from her belt, the company’s emblem. The nickname “Night Watch” arose in the 18th century, when darkened varnish made the scene look nocturnal; it actually takes place by day.
Did you know?
- In 1715 it was trimmed on all four sides, especially the left, to fit a wall in Amsterdam’s town hall.
- It has been attacked several times, with a knife in 1975 and with acid in 1990, and was restored on both occasions.
- Since 2019 the Rijksmuseum has been studying and restoring it in public view as “Operation Night Watch”, publishing ultra-high-resolution images online.
Where to see the original
The Night Watch is at the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Works are sometimes lent to exhibitions or taken down for restoration, so it is worth checking the museum’s website before you go.
Which print size to choose
The print keeps the proportions of the original: if they differ from the paper, the painting is centred with a white border and never cropped. More details in our size guide.
| A4 (21 × 29.7 cm) | shelves, desks and gallery walls |
|---|---|
| A3 (29.7 × 42 cm) | bedrooms, hallways and small walls |
| A2 (42 × 59.4 cm) | above a sideboard, chest of drawers or headboard |
Prints are made to order in the Czech Republic and reach the EU in 3 to 8 days, with no customs. Canvases are made in the USA and take about 2 to 3 weeks, with EU VAT included in the price.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is The Night Watch?
- The original is held at the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.
- How big is The Night Watch?
- The original painting measures 363 × 437 cm (height × width).
- Who painted The Night Watch and when?
- It was painted by Rembrandt in 1642.
- Can I hang a reproduction of The Night Watch at home?
- Yes. The work is in the public domain, so it can be freely reproduced. We offer it as a matte print in A4, A3, A2 (from €18.99) and as a ready-to-hang canvas (from €55.99), with free shipping to the EU.
Updated 21 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Message us through the shop and we will fix it.
