I had so much fun researching this painting by Rembrandt and finding out how it was commissioned. In the Netherlands military groups would often develop into social clubs for gentlemen. These groups would often commission a portrait, which were called militia paintings. When a group portrait was commissioned, each individual would pay an equal amount to be in the painting. This also meant that the painter would need to show everyone as equals in the portrait. You know the term “Going Dutch”?!
“Militia Company of Captain Frans Banning Cocq.” which is also known as “Night Watch”, came around and broke all the rules. Really, that’s what helps make someone great, right? Rembrandt did not aim at painting each of the members as equals, but instead created a work of art that had focus and drama. Additional people were added to the portrait to create the story and figures were placed around the scene to show the group in action. This is one of the many reasons everyone has heard of Rembrandt today. He knew what everyone else was doing and did something different and in the process created a true masterpiece. One of Rembrandt’s pupils wrote about this work:
“It will outlast all its competitors, being so artistic in conception, so ingenious in the varied placement of figures, and so powerful that, according to some, it makes all the other pieces there look like decks of playing cards”
What rules will you break today? 
