Rijksmuseum begins bacterial sampling on Rembrandt’s The Night Watch

The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam has launched a six-month scientific project to sample and analyze the bacteria present on Rembrandt’s 1642 masterpiece, ‘The Night Watch’. This initiative is part of the ongoing five-year ‘Operation Night Watch’ restoration and research program.

In collaboration with Artis-Micropia, specialists will collect microbial samples from various sections of the painting, including both varnished and unvarnished areas. The research aims to understand how the painting interacts with its environment and how visitors contribute to its microbiome through biological traces. Katrien Keune, head of science at the Rijksmuseum, noted that a long-term goal is to potentially identify bacterial traces belonging to the artist himself.

The collected samples will be cultivated and used to create an installation titled ‘The Night Watch Lives’ at Artis-Micropia. Starting November 11, this exhibit will feature a life-sized reproduction of the painting to map out the microorganisms found on its surface.