Pratiksha Shome
The Standard Bearer (1636) by Rembrandt was unveiled at the Rijksmuseum on Thursday after a national tour. On Saturday, there will be no admission charge to the museum to commemorate the occasion. One of the artist’s earliest works after relocating to Amsterdam in the 17th century is The Standard Bearer. It is said to be the last significant piece by the artist to pass from private owners to a public institution. It was painted soon after Rembrandt turned 30.
The picture has a distinguished pedigree, having been gifted by the English king King George IV to a French Rothschild. Rembrandt is portrayed in the self-portrait as a standard bearer in period garb during the Eighty Years War, which led to the Netherlands becoming a sovereign nation in 1648. The Night Watch (1642), also housed at the Rijksmuseum, was commissioned as a result of this painting. The painting cost €175 million ($191.3 million) and was purchased with government funding last year. The Dutch government provided a grant of €150 million ($163.9 million), with further donations of €15 million ($16.4 million) from the Rembrandt Association and €10 million ($10.9 million) from the Rijksmuseum Fund.
Source: ARTnews
