'NIGHT WATCH' BY REMBRANDT

' The Shooting Company of Frans Banning Cocq 
and Willem van Ruytenburch '

Visitors' movement in the hall where 'Night Watch' is displayed.

When we planned to visit  families in Helsinki and Houston in 2017, I  selected Amsterdam as the Airport to disembark in Europe not only for its connectivity, but also for a visit to  Rijks and Van Gogh Museums as well as a boat-ride in its canals.

View of a bridge across a canal : 

Photo taken during our boat-ride in Amsterdam.

Rijks Museum allows photography without flash, hence we could bring camera-load of memories . This time, I decided that I shall take snaps of parts the large paintings displayed  so that I can study the details later on a computer screen.  To get an opportunity to click a straight  photo , without watchers' heads obstructing the view, was never easy. Not having enough elbow-room, in some cases, caused framing of  selected portions improper.

 The full picture from as close a position as possible. 

The lighting very aesthetically accentuates the painter's highlighting. 

 'Night Watch' was painted in 1642 AD by Rembrandt . The painting  was commissioned by  the Klovenier company under the command of  Frans Banning Cocq and used to be displayed at Kloveniersdoelen [ ' musketeers' shooting range' ] till 1715 AD. In 1715 AD, it was shifted to the Amsterdam Town Hall when its all four sides were trimmed. Its current size is 11.91 ft X 14.34 ft .

 Captain Frans Banning Cocq , dressed in black, with a red sash, and his lieutenant 

Willem van Ruytenburch, dressed in yellow, with a white sash.

Rembrandt's painting stand out for two reasons : perception of movement of the group and effective use of light & shade. it is stated that   for quite a long time, the painting had a coat of dark varnish, giving a wrong impression  that Rembrandt painted a night scene, hence the name 'The Night Watch'.

 Who is the 'mystery' girl in this painting ?

There are paragraphs written about the mystery girl in this painting, highlighted by sunlight and shade. She holds a dead chicken in her hand, representing a defeated adversary. Does she have any resemblance with Rembrandt's wife whom he lost before he started the painting ?  There are more symbols associated with her depiction. Interested reader may pl refer to :  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Night_Watch.

GLIMPSES OF LJUBLJANA ATTRACTION - VISIT 2017 - I

MORE PHOTOS OF LJUBLJANA ATTRACTIONS - I

Making  notes from Travel Brochure of Ljubljana.

Travel literature on Ljubljana  projects its old town, castle and contributions of architect Joze Plecnik as the major points of attraction. There are numerous tours across the Old Town throughout the day, offering several options of interest areas.

When it drizzles,  umbrella are out but 'walk' is on.....:
Ardent Tourists  at Mestni trg - Town Hall and Fountain of ThreeCarniolan Rivers.  

 One option among such  tours - both walking and riding on bicycles -  showcase  'Plecnik's Ljubljana'.The most famous among his contributions is the Tri-Bridge across the rivulet Ljubljanica. There was a wooden bridge here in the 13th century. Later , in 19th century, Ljubljana had a 'stone arch bridge'. Plecnik added two pedestrian bridges here to avoid congestion during 1930s. In 2007, it became a part of the pedestrian zone.

Tri-bridge illuminated. 

Open Market Building - also Plecnik's design - on photo's left.

Another famous design of Plecnik is National & University Library. I, however, did not find it eye-catching. Regret that I  missed out clicking photo/s of this building when I was walking in the pedestrian zone to click whatever attracted my attention . In its neighbourhood, at Kongresni trg square, the two buildings which attracted my notice were  University of Ljubljana and  Ursuline Monastery.

The University of Ljubljana, with 63000 enrolled students, is one largest university of Europe. I found the facade of the University beautiful.Earlier, it was a provincial Mansion. The building  was re-built in 1902 AD after a devastating earthquake in 1895 AD. Since 1919 AD, this building housed the University. The building was  designed by architect Jan Hrasky and later revised by Josef Hudetz.The building has four different facades, two main and two side ones , designed in the style of German Renaissance with neo-Gothic elements.

Front facade of the University building. 

The facades are decorated with 14 medallions 
depicting the coats of arms of Carolinian towns.

Ursuline Monastery and Church of the Holy Trinity, according to the Guide book of Slovenian Tourist Information,can be considered as 'the most beautiful and extra-ordinary example of Baroque architecture in Ljubljana'. The church was built during 1718-26 AD according to design of Carlo Martinuzzi. The  entrance staircase in the front is also designed by Plecnik in 1930.

Holy Trinity Column.
Ursuline Monastery in the background.

In front of the Church, stands the Holy Trinity Column, erected in 1693 AD as gratitude of the city having been spared from an epidemic of plague. What we see in the photo is replica of the original, presumably created by Francesco Robba , while the original is preserved in the City Museum.

Butcher's Bridge,love 'pad-locks' and serpent.

Closer view : 'Love' Locks

The riverside has been looked after very well the Town Admin as well as the citizen.Very admirable is the display of urban aesthetics ! The Open Market , designed by Plecnik, looks wonderful when illuminated. The Butchers' bridge is remarkable too - with its railings fitted with 'love' padlocks and sculptures around and semi-transparent footpath. Adam , Eve and Serpent's photos are here.

Adam and Eve

I end with two photos of interesting objects :

First one of the several bronze sculptures along Petkovoskovo nabrezje. 

Second one is a relief of the face of Julija Primic,the lady love of poet  France Preseren, mounted across Presernov trg square.