Banquet of the Officers of the Civic Guard of St George
- Showpiece
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Frans Hals
This is Hals’ first civic guard painting (schuttersstuk): the officers of the St. George Civic guards at their farewell banquet. These officers served from 1612 to 1615.
Frans Hals (Antwerpen ca. 1582 - Haarlem 1666) has managed to convey the hierarchy in the officers corps, in a clear composition. The flag’s point is the top of an imaginary pyramid within which the officers have been ranked. To the left, at the head of the table sits the Colonel, and to his right the Provost. They are the highest ranking officers. Then come the three captains and lastly the three lieutenants. Standing around them are the three ensigns and the servant. Only ensigns, usually young men from well-to-do families, stayed more than three years; they were permitted to retain their positions until they got married. Two ensigns on this painting, Boudewijn van Offenberg and Jacob Schout, were still ensigns in 1627 and can also be found on the civic guard painting of the St. George Civic guards painted in 1627. The ensigns are shown carrying the flags of the St. George Civic guards, blue and yellow chequered at the top and red and white stripes at the bottom, with the coat of arms of Haarlem at the center. The captain seated in the foreground is Nicolaes van der Meer. In 1631, Van der Meer was again portrayed by Frans Hals, together with his wife Cornelia Vooght.
- Creator
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- schilder: Frans Hals
- Date of creation
- 1616
- Object type
- easel paintings (paintings by form)
- Dimensions
- Collection
- Paintings from the Frans Hals Museum
- Institution
- Source
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- OS-I-109 (schilderij), Kunstwerken uit het Frans Hals Museum, Haarlem
- Copyright
- for information contact: Frans Hals Museum
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