Thirty colossal, 17th century group portraits from the Amsterdam Museum and the Rijksmuseum collections have been brought together for the first time ever in the Hermitage Amsterdam. These are the ‘brothers and sisters’ of the famous ‘Night Watch’ by Rembrandt van Rijn. They are Unique all over the world and are rarely exposed due to their impressive size. Look at regents, civic gueards and merchants of all ranks, social classes and religions, standing together as brothers. Rembrandts The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Deijman’and portraits of civic guards including Govert Flinek and Nicolaes Pickenoy are but a few examples of the works of art that are in display in the portrait gallery of the Golden Age.
Together they illustrate the story of collective citizenship that is so typical of the Netherlands. Its as if they are holding up a mirror tot contemorary Dutch society. Because the relationships between the people of the time formed the basis of the standards of conventions of today.