A curator at Amsterdam's prestigious Rijksmuseum has made a surprising discovery about one of the world's most famous paintings: Rembrandt van Rijn copied a dog from another Dutch artist's work when creating his masterpiece "The Night Watch." Anne Lenders stumbled upon this finding by accident while examining a 1619 pen and ink drawing by fellow Dutch artist Adriaen van de Venne.
Lenders made the discovery during a visit to an exhibition at the Zeeuws Museum in the southern Netherlands, where her attention was caught by a picture of a dog by Van de Venne that appeared in a book by poet Jacob Cats. The original drawing, which turned out to be part of the Rijksmuseum's own extensive collection, was also displayed at the exhibition. "I wasn't looking for this; it was really unexpected," Lenders explained while standing in the glass room where The Night Watch is currently undergoing extensive restoration.
The resemblance between the two dogs proved to be remarkably strong, prompting Lenders to begin detailed research comparing Van de Venne's and Rembrandt's canines. "The resemblance is so strong that at the very first moment I thought he (Rembrandt) must have used this," she noted. Her investigation revealed striking similarities in the dogs' poses, including their collars, head positioning, and physical features.
Lenders' analysis uncovered precise details that confirmed the connection between the two artworks. "The head turns in exactly the same angle with the mouth slightly opened," she observed. "Both dogs have long hair and ears that hang vertical." These specific characteristics made it clear that Rembrandt had used Van de Venne's drawing as direct inspiration for his own work.
In Rembrandt's 1642 masterpiece, the barking dog serves a specific artistic purpose, adding tension to a darker corner of the crowded composition. The animal is positioned crouching and apparently barking near a drummer named Jacob Jorisz, just behind one of the painting's main characters, Lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburch. This placement demonstrates Rembrandt's strategic use of the borrowed image to enhance the overall drama of the scene.
This discovery represents the latest revelation to emerge from "Operation Night Watch," a comprehensive years-long project that began in 2019 to reexamine the massive 379.5 by 453.5-centimeter (149.4 by 178.5-inch) canvas using cutting-edge modern techniques. The extensive study includes ongoing restoration work that experts expect will take several more years to complete.
Rijksmuseum Director Taco Dibbits emphasized the significance of such discoveries, noting how even well-studied masterpieces continue to yield new insights. "One tends to think, well, it's been researched so well, we know everything about it," Dibbits explained. "But the great thing with great art is that you always keep discovering things." This philosophy drives the museum's commitment to continuous research and examination of their collection.
Despite this breakthrough in understanding Rembrandt's creative process, some mysteries remain unsolved. Art experts at the Rijksmuseum have been unable to definitively identify the specific breed of dog depicted in both artworks, with professional opinions divided between French and Dutch breeds. The uncertainty suggests that both Van de Venne and Rembrandt may have taken artistic liberties in their representations.
"We will never have a conclusion on which breed it is," Dibbits acknowledged with a touch of humor. "But it's definitely very much loved." This sentiment reflects both the enduring appeal of these artistic works and the ongoing fascination they generate among scholars, curators, and art lovers worldwide. The discovery adds another layer to our understanding of how master artists of the Dutch Golden Age influenced and borrowed from one another in creating their timeless works.
