Rembrandt's Barking Dog In "Night Watch" Traced To 1619 Drawing By Dutch Artist

Barking dog in Rembrandt's The Night Watch

The discovery of the origin behind the barking canine in Rembrandt's masterpiece "The Night Watch" happened through a fortuitous observation rather than deliberate investigation.

On Tuesday, Anne Lenders, curator at Amsterdam's prestigious Rijksmuseum, revealed that she unexpectedly identified that the dog depicted in Rembrandt van Rijn's celebrated painting was practically a duplicate of one appearing in a 1619 pen and ink illustration by fellow Dutch Golden Age artist Adriaen van de Venne.

"I wasn't looking for this; it was really unexpected," Lenders explained while standing in the glass-enclosed restoration area where "The Night Watch" is currently undergoing comprehensive conservation work.

During a visit to an exhibition at the Zeeuws Museum in southern Netherlands, Lenders' attention was drawn to an image of a dog by Van de Venne printed in poet Jacob Cats' book. The original illustration—surprisingly part of the Rijksmuseum's own extensive collection—was also exhibited there.

"The resemblance is so strong that at the very first moment I thought he (Rembrandt) must have used this," she noted.

This observation initiated detailed research comparing both dogs, analyzing their posture and even their collars.

"The head turns in exact the same angle with the mouth slightly opened. ... Both dogs have long hair and ears that hang vertical," Lenders described.

Within "The Night Watch," the dog contributes tension to a shadowy section of the bustling composition, crouching and seemingly barking near drummer Jacob Jorisz and positioned just behind one of the iconic 1642 painting's principal figures, Lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburch.

This finding represents the latest in a series of discoveries emerging during the extensive "Operation Night Watch" project, which began in 2019 with a comprehensive examination of the 379.5 by 453.5-centimeter (149.4 by 178.5-inch) canvas using contemporary analytical techniques. The restoration process is anticipated to continue for several more years.

"One tends to think, well, it's been researched so well, we know everything about it," Rijksmuseum Director Taco Dibbits commented. "But the great thing with great art is that you always keep discovering things."

Despite thorough investigation, the Rijksmuseum has been unable to definitively identify the dog's breed, with expert opinions divided between French or Dutch origins. Most likely, both artists employed some creative liberty in their depictions.

"We will never have a conclusion on which breed it is," Dibbits acknowledged. "But it's definitely very much loved."