It was not common for citizens in that period to get painted in this way. The way of painting was reserved for king and queens. These two paintings are the only ones that Rembrandt ever made in this way.

After nearly 400 years the paintings are now back in the public domain. They were bought by the Dutch and French government from the Rothschild’s for 160 million Euros. The paintings will be exhibit in Amsterdam and Paris. It’s decided they will be exhibited always together.