The top 10 artworks in 2019

From the series 10 things...

Which items in our online collection got the most visits and love in 2019? Was any painting or object viewed more times than our greatest and most loved painter in this Year of Rembrandt? Read on to find out!

The Milkmaid The Milkmaid

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The Milkmaid – Vermeer

Johannes Vermeer’s calm, understated milkmaid tops the list. After a short stay in Tokyo, she returned to the Gallery of Honour earlier this year. We were delighted to have her back.

The Milkmaid Johannes Vermeer (1632–1675), oil on canvas, c. 1660

The Night Watch Militia Company of District II under the Command of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq The Night Watch Militia Company of District II under the Command of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq

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The Night Watch – Rembrandt

2019 saw the start of Operation Night Watch, the biggest and most advanced research project ever on The Night Watch. Its goals is to conserve the painting for future generations, so everyone can keep enjoying it off-line too.

The Night Watch Militia Company of District II under the Command of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669), oil on canvas, 1642

The Corpses of the De Witt Brothers The Corpses of the De Witt Brothers

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The Corpses of the De Witt Brothers – Jan de Baen

Is it because it appeared a couple of times in the BBC series Killing Eve, or are you all just fans of this gruesome image? Whatever the reason, this painting of a famous political double murder has made it to third place.

The Corpses of the De Witt Brothers attributed to Jan de Baen (1633–1702), oil on canvas, c. 1672–1675

The Threatened Swan The Threatened Swan

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The Threatened Swan – Asselijn

This was our first-ever acquisition, and it’s still a huge favourite with the public. This feisty swan is protecting her eggs against the approaching dog. Did she poop because she’s scared, or is it part of her defence?

The Threatened Swan Jan Asselijn (1610–1652), oil on canvas, c. 1650

Still Life with Flowers in a Glass Vase Still Life with Flowers in a Glass Vase

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Still Life with Flowers in a Glass Vase – De Heem

In the height of summer or the depths of winter, these flowers are always in full bloom – this beautiful vase and flowers with insects on and around them have been radiating colour for more than 350 years.

Still Life with Flowers in a Glass Vase

Self-portrait Self-portrait

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Self-portrait – Van Gogh

Dreamy green eyes, a reddish beard, and superb loose brushwork. This list wouldn’t be complete with a work by the most popular Dutch master of the 19th century, and you visited in droves to see this self-portrait.

Self-portrait Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890), oil on cardboard, 1887

Dolls’ house of Petronella Oortman Dolls’ house of Petronella Oortman

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Dolls’ house of Petronella Oortman – Anonymous

True beauty is on the inside, so the saying goes. Well it certainly applies to this work! Petronella Oortman commissioned a French cabinetmaker to make this incredibly lifelike dolls’ house as beautiful as possible.

Dolls’ house of Petronella Oortman Amsterdam, c. 1686–1710, oak cabinet, veneered with tortoiseshell and pewter

Isaac and Rebecca, Known as ‘The Jewish Bride’ Isaac and Rebecca, Known as ‘The Jewish Bride’

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The Jewish Bride – Rembrandt

This couple has had a very busy year indeed. The painting was one of the highlights of two exhibitions – All the Rembrandts and Rembrandt-Velázquez – and inbetween it hung in our Gallery of Honour.

Isaac and Rebecca, Known as ‘The Jewish Bride’ oil on canvas, c. 1665–1669

The Battle of Waterloo The Battle of Waterloo

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The Battle of Waterloo, Jan Willem Pieneman

This is our largest painting and the subject of the first in a series of videos giving a glimpse behind the scenes at the museum. The main question in the case of this huge canvas was how to go about cleaning it.

The Battle of Waterloo Jan Willem Pieneman (1779-1853), oil on canvas, 1824

Self-portrait Self-portrait

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Self-portrait – Rembrandt

This self-portrait as a young man just had to be on the list in this Year of Rembrandt – the artist’s shadowed face makes for the perfect image of Rembrandt the rebel.

Self-portrait Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–1669), oil on panel, c. 1628

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