Audrey Dassen

                                        ~On Sunday, The Rijksmuseum~

...it was on my wish list for months, and finally this morning I took the train to see the grand masterpieces of the 17th century, and other beautiful pieces for myself. When I entered the room, I actually wanted to post a picture where the Nachtwacht was accommodated. Unfortunately it failed (well…this happened with an amateur as myself, it's part the excitement and the impatient). Nevertheless, as expected a huge interest in this masterpiece by Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669). Step by step I worked myself to the front, so hopefully the rest of the images will give you some impression of the tremendous beauty of this painting...

…the Nachtwacht, oil on canvas. Height 379,5 cm - width 453,5 cm and it weighs 337 kg...

...The captain, in black, gives his lieutenant ordered that the company should go marching. The gunmen position themselves. Using light Rembrandt drew attention to important details, such as the hand gesture of the captain and the little girl in the background. She is the mascot of the gunmen...

...Frans Hals (c. 1582-1666) and Pieter Codde (1599-1678) Oil on canvas, 1637. A commission for an Amsterdam civic guard was rarely awarded to an artist from out of town. Quiet exceptionally, it was given to Frans Hals from Haarlem, but soon he was at odds with the gunmen. The Amsterdam painter Pieter Codde then had to finished the seven figures on the right side. He imitated as closely as possible Hal's style, while he painted most of the time just very smooth and delicately on small sizes...

...and a few highlights from another great painter, Bartholomeus van der Helst, 1613-1670...

...how wonderful to see the magnificent attention for all the details in every single painting! the costumes with exquisite decorations and certainly not fail to notice, the shoes! fabulous, pompons and ribbons. A beautiful, beautiful collection which is definitely worth the visit. Relive the Splendour in the Rijksmuseum. (I have to go back for a second round up, after a three hours walk, I haven't seen everything)...

Images, by Audrey (the info about the paintings, website the Rijksmuseum)