The 17th century was a period of unprecedented blossoming in Dutch art and culture. Rembrandt developed his innovative techniques and Vermeer captured life in silent tableaus while trade flourished and supplied the Netherlands with goods from all over the world. The decorative arts responded, and the canal-side houses inhabited by a burgeoning merchant class came to resemble royal palaces, filled with art, luxury items from the Far East, porcelain and silk.

A newly updated companion guide to the Rijksmuseum's unparalleled collection of art from this period, 1600-1700 features more than 150 highlights from the Amsterdam institution. Painting a spectacular picture of the glory of the Dutch Golden Age through its art and material culture, this volume features illustrated entries on beloved masterpieces such as Rembrandt's "Night Watch," Vermeer's "Milkmaid" and Frans Hals' "The Merry Drinker," among many others.