The Standard Bearer is one of the first paintings the Dutch artist made after moving to Amsterdam in the 17th century. It was painted by Rembrandt right after he turned 30 years old, and it is thought to be the last big work of his to move from private hands to a public institution. The picture has a long and interesting history. It was given to one of the French Rothschilds by the English king George IV. In the painting "Self-Portrait," Rembrandt is dressed as a flag bearer from the Eighty Years War, which ended in 1648 and made the Netherlands an independent country. This piece helped Rembrandt get the job of painting The Night Watch (1642), which is also in the Rijksmuseum.
Last year, the government helped pay €175 million ($191.3 million) to buy the picture. The Dutch government gave €150 million ($163.9 million), and the Rembrandt Association gave €15 million ($16.4 million), and the Rijksmuseum Fund gave €10 million ($10.9 million).
Selena Mattei
