Nightwatch (1642) Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669) Oil on canvas (363 x 437 cm) Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, Netherlands Recorded September 15, 1994

The rattling of sabres and drums almost spills from Rembrandt's most well-known work. Less loud but equally important is the sound of coin purses changing hands: Rembrandt cast his most generous patrons in the roles of key figures here, thus imbuing them with an air of military authority they were unable to establish in any other way. In the darker corners of this image, countering the gathering bravery written on the collected visages, is the scarcely-hidden fact that war is nothing more or less than payment made audible.