What was the original title of The Night Watch?

The painting commonly known as The Night Watch was originally titled Militia Company of District II Under the Command of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq.12

The familiar title, The Night Watch, is a misnomer that was first recorded in 1797. It was erroneously applied to the work because the painting’s surface had become obscured by a thick, dark yellow varnish, leading viewers to believe the scene took place at night.12

Created in 1642 by the Dutch artist Rembrandt van Rijn, the masterpiece is a dynamic group portrait of a civic guard company commissioned to protect Amsterdam. Unlike traditional group portraits of the era, which typically arranged subjects in static rows or at banquets, Rembrandt utilized dramatic chiaroscuro and movement to transform the commission into a theatrical work of art. The painting is currently housed in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.12