Western Art Movements I Art Movements    

Lesson 15: Baroque - The Night Watch (1642)

by Rembrandt van Rijn

Directions

Study the artwork for one week.

Over the week:

• Examine the artwork.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Recite the artist and artwork names.
• Read about the artwork's movement.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

Rembrandt completed his Baroque masterpiece, 'The Night Watch' in 1642. In the foreground, Captain Frans Banning Cocq, dressed in black with a red sash, gestures to his white-clad lieutenant. Figures in motion overflow from the background, including city guardsmen holding arquebuses and pikes, one guardsman raising a banner, a drummer, a snarling dog, and a female mascot wearing a dead chicken on her golden dress (the claws symbolize the guild of the guardsmen). This painting exemplifies Baroque characteristics such as the dramatic use of light and shadow, movement, and overlapping figures. Interestingly, in the 1800s, the painting was misnamed as a night scene [3]. Look closely to see how bright sunlight casts the shadow of Captain Cocq's hand. Until being restored in the 20th century, years of accumulated grime gave the painting the appearance of night. Over the years, the painting has been the target of multiple attacks [4]. In 1911, frustrated by his joblessness, a former shoemaker and Navy chef stabbed the painting. In 1975, a mentally ill and jobless schoolteacher slashed the painting. In 1990, an escaped psychiatric patient sprayed the painting with acid. Despite the attacks, the painting perseveres and is due for additional restoration starting in 2019.

Vocabulary

Arquebus: An obsolete matchlock firearm.
Pike: A very long spear used two-handed for thrusting.
Guild: A group or association mainly of tradespeople.

Concepts

Featured Movement:

1. Name - Baroque
2. Timeline - 17th century to the 18th century

Baroque Movement Characteristics:

1. Use of Movement, Emotion, and Vibrancy ('The Fall of Phaeton' by Peter Paul Rubens between 1604-1605)

2. Asymmetry ('The Stolen Kiss' by Jean-Honoré Fragonard painted in the late Baroque/Rococo in 1786)

3. Overlapping Subjects and Objects ('The Surrender of Breda' by Diego Velázquez between 1634-1635)

Baroque Movement Subjects:

1. Biblical Subjects Still Common ('The Elevation of the Cross' by Peter Paul Rubens between 1610-1611)

2. Mythology Still Prevalent ('Bacchus' by Caravaggio between 1595-1597)

3. Realism ('Ladies in Waiting' by Diego Velázquez in 1656)

Baroque Architecture:

1. Highly detailed and ornate works of grandeur (Melk Abbey in Melk, Austria built between 1702-1736)

2. Illusion (Trompe-l'oeil ceiling in Jesuit Church in Vienna created by Andrea Pozzo in 1703)

3. Flowing Lines (San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane in Rome, Italy consecrated in 1646)

4. Light and Shade (The Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles in France built starting in 1682)

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Find the following in the artwork:

• Captain Frans Banninck Cocq
• A Lieutenant
• Shadow of a Hand
• Guardsmen
• Arquebuses
• Pikes
• Woman in White
• Dead Chicken
• Snarling Dog
• Red Sash
• Drum
• Flag

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

• After studying the artwork, narrate the scene shown aloud using your own words.

Activity 3: Study the Artwork's Location

• 'The Night Watch' is housed in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
• Study the picture of the museum.

• Zoom in on the map of Europe to find Amsterdam, the capital city of the Netherlands.

Activity 4: Classify the Artwork

• This artwork belongs to the Baroque art movement.
• Find the Baroque art movement on the timeline.
• During which (estimated) years did the Baroque art movement flourish?
• Which art movement preceded the Baroque art movement?
• Which art movement followed the Baroque art movement?

Activity 5: Recreate the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 18 of 'Fourth Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

Who are the characters in the artwork?

1 / 5

Answer 1

The characters include Captain Frans Banninck Cocq, his lieutenant, a group of arquebusiers, a woman/mascot in white, and a drummer.

1 / 5

Question 2

To which western art movement does this painting belong?

2 / 5

Answer 2

This painting belongs to the Baroque art movement.

2 / 5

Question 3

How is this painting reflective of the Baroque art movement?

3 / 5

Answer 3

The Baroque art movement and this painting showcase movement, overlapping figures, and dramatic contrasts of light and dark.

3 / 5

Question 4

How is this artwork misnamed?

4 / 5

Answer 4

In the 18th century, the painting was renamed 'The Night Watch' even though it takes place during the daytime.

4 / 5

Question 5

During which century was this artwork created?

5 / 5

Answer 5

Rembrandt painted this artwork in the 17th century.

5 / 5

❮ ❯

1. Who are the characters in the artwork? The characters include Captain Frans Banninck Cocq, his lieutenant, a group of arquebusiers, a woman/mascot in white, and a drummer.
2. To which western art movement does this painting belong? This painting belongs to the Baroque art movement.
3. How is this painting reflective of the Baroque art movement? The Baroque art movement and this painting showcase movement, overlapping figures, and dramatic contrasts of light and dark.
4. How is this artwork misnamed? In the 18th century, the painting was renamed 'The Night Watch' even though it takes place during the daytime.
5. During which century was this artwork created? Rembrandt painted this artwork in the 17th century.

References

'Baroque Art.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Baroque Architecture.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Rembrandt's Night Watch.' Rembrandt Painting. www.rembrandtpainting.net/rembrandt%27s_night_watch.htm. n.p.

'The Night Watch.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane - Front by Architas (CC BY-SA 4.0).' Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:San_Carlo_alle_Quattro_Fontane_-_Front.jpg. n.p.