Banquet of the Officers of the Civic Guard of St Adrian (the Cluveniers)
- Showpiece
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Frans Hals
The Haarlem city historian and poet Samuel Ampzing praises this civic guard painting in his poem ‘Description and praise of Haarlem’ dated 1628 as ‘very boldly done from life’. The painting portrays the eleven officers of the St. Adrian (Cluveniers) Civic guards at their farewell banquet. The servant Willem Ruychaver can also be seen in the background. To the left, at the head of the table sits the Colonel, Willem Claesz Vooght. He can be recognized by his orange sash. Next to him is seated the fiscal Johan Damius, who is being handed a glass.
The composition of the painting is balanced and well-considered. The civic guards have been divided into two groups that have been linked in the composition by the officer with a knife: he belongs to the group on the right but is looking towards the left. The position of officer in the civic guard was an honorary post. These posts were reserved for a small group of influential, well-to-do citizens of Haarlem. In Haarlem, the owners of thriving breweries were among the wealthiest in the city. Captain Willem Warmont was the owner of the brewery 't Gecroonde Ancker, Captain Johan Schatter owned the brewery De Gecroonde Ruyt and Ensign Loth Schout owned the brewery De Twee Gecroonde Starren. Fiscal Johan Damius was a physician and Lieutenant Outgert Akersloot was a goldsmith. On the far left stands Ensign Adriaen Matham, draftsman and engraver. In 1634, he was present at the baptism of Frans Hals’ daughter Suzanna. A striking feature is the dog at his feet; on no other civic guard paintings from Haarlem can a dog be found.
- Creator
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- schilder: Frans Hals
- Date of creation
- 1627
- Object type
- easel paintings (paintings by form)
- Dimensions
- Collection
- Paintings from the Frans Hals Museum
- Institution
- Source
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- OS-I-111 (schilderij), Kunstwerken uit het Frans Hals Museum, Haarlem
- Copyright
- for information contact: Frans Hals Museum
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