When people copy someone else’s ideas or images today, it’s often seen as stealing, or plagiarism. But back in Rembrandt’s time, it was different. Experts say what he did was called “emulation.” This meant he admired and borrowed from others to show off his craft.
Take The Night Watch, for example. This famous painting from 1642 depicts Amsterdam citizens preparing to defend their city. It features a dog in the corner, which is said to be inspired by a drawing from a lesser-known artist. Recent research by Anne Lenders, a curator at the Rijksmuseum, highlights the striking similarities between the dog in Rembrandt’s painting and one in a drawing from a 17th-century self-defense guide.
Taco Dibbits, the general director of the Rijksmuseum, points out that much like Shakespeare, Rembrandt looked to earlier works for inspiration. Back in the 16th century, many artists were encouraged to copy great works as a way to learn and improve. Rembrandt aimed to excel alongside Italian masters like Raphael and Michelangelo. In those days, borrowing from others was seen as a way to grow as an artist, not as plagiarism.
Lenders discovered the source of the dog’s image during a visit to an exhibition at the Zeeuws Museum. She found a book by Jacob Cats featuring the dog drawn by Adriaen van de Venne. Interestingly, Van de Venne was known for his works during the Dutch Golden Age, though he never reached Rembrandt’s level of fame.
Advanced scans of The Night Watch have shown even more connections between Rembrandt’s work and Van de Venne’s drawing. In the final painting, Rembrandt cleverly positioned the dog to add excitement, even if real dogs wouldn’t act that way near a drum.
This blending of influences highlights how artists can create something new while building on what came before. It’s a reminder that art evolves through appreciation and inspiration from others.
