Operation Night Watch
Do you want to watch too?
The Night Watch can be seen again! After two months of treatment, the painting can be admired again in all its glory. And even closer than ever! Rembrandt's most famous work is located right at the front of the glass house. Press your nose against the glass and discover every detail.
What is being done now?
Rembrandt's masterpiece is back at the front of the glass house after two months of treatment. It is placed on a new aluminium frame. This was necessary because the canvas showed deformations in the top left-hand corner. Because it is at the front of the glass house, it can be seen closer than ever.
The research
The Rijksmuseum continually monitors the condition of the Night Watch, and it has been discovered that changes are occurring, such as the blanching on the dog figure at the lower right of the painting. To gain a better understanding of its condition as a whole, the decision has been taken to conduct a thorough examination. This detailed study is necessary to determine the best treatment plan, and will involve imaging techniques, high-resolution photography and highly advanced computer analysis. Using these and other methods, we will be able to form a very detailed picture of the painting – not only of the painted surface, but of each and every layer, from varnish to canvas.
The team
Robert van Langh
Head Conservation & Science
Susan Smelt
Paintings Conservator
Katrien Keune
Head of Science
Robert Erdmann
Senior Scientist
Annelies van Loon
Paintings Research Scientist
Francesca Gabrieli
Junior Science
Victor Gonzalez
Junior Science
Carola van Wijk
Photographer
Henni van Beek
Photographer
Petria Noble
Head of Paintings Conservation
Lisette Vos
Paintings Conservator
Esther van Duijn
Paintings Conservator
Anna Krekeler
Paintings Conservator
Giulia de Vivo
Paintings Conservator
Ige Verslype
Paintings Conservator
Laura Raven
Junior Paintings Conservator
Nienke Woltman
Junior Paintings Conservator
Gregor Weber
Head of Fine and Decorative Arts
Jonathan Bikker
Curator of 17th-century Dutch paintings
Pieter Roelofs
Head of Paintings and Sculpture
Erma Hermens
Professor
We thank
Operation Night Watch is made possible by The Bennink Foundation, C.L. de Carvalho-Heineken, PACCAR Foundation, Piet van der Slikke & Sandra Swelheim, American Express Foundation, Familie De Rooij, Het AutoBinck Fonds, TBRM Engineering Solutions, Dina & Kjell Johnsen, Familie D. Ermia, Familie M. van Poecke, Bruker Nano Analytics, Henry M. Holterman Fonds, Irma Theodora Fonds, Luca Fonds, Piek-den Hartog Fonds, Stichting Zabawas, Cevat Fonds, Johanna Kast-Michel Fonds, Marjorie & Jeffrey A. Rosen, Stichting Thurkowfonds, Familie Van Ogtrop Fonds, FedEx Express, Airbnb, the Night Watch Fund, the City of Amsterdam and the Amsterdam Museum.
Main partner
Daily 9-17h
Night Watch Gallery
