Artwork

Militia Company of District VIII under the Command of Captain Roelof Bicker

Militia Company of District VIII under the Command of Captain Roelof Bicker, by Bartholomeus van der Helst, oil, 1641
Militia Company of District VIII under the Command of Captain Roelof Bicker, by Bartholomeus van der Helst, oil, 1641

Militia Company of District VIII under the Command of Captain Roelof Bicker is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Bartholomeus van der Helst. It dates from 1641 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Overview

Bartholomeus van der Helst completed his oil painting, "Militia Company of District VIII under the Command of Captain Roelof Bicker," in 1641. This work from the Dutch Golden Age captures a civic militia group, including Captain Roelof Bicker and the artist himself. The painting is a significant example of group portraiture from the period and is housed in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

Subject & Meaning

Their dignified presentation conveys the importance and social standing of these citizen-soldiers within the city's culture during the Dutch Golden Age.

The painting depicts a formal gathering of men from Amsterdam's civic militia, District VIII, under Captain Roelof Bicker. Dressed in elaborate 17th-century attire, complete with hats and weapons like swords and spears, the figures are arranged in a posed composition. Their dignified presentation conveys the importance and social standing of these citizen-soldiers within the city's culture during the Dutch Golden Age.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil paint, the work showcases van der Helst's meticulous attention to detail. He rendered the intricate textures and folds of the elaborate 17th-century garments with precision. The artist's use of chiaroscuro creates a strong sense of depth and three-dimensionality, with a dark background serving to emphasize the figures in the foreground. This approach contributes to the overall grandeur of the composition.

Context

Created during the Dutch Golden Age, this painting reflects the vibrant civic culture of Amsterdam. Bartholomeus van der Helst was a prominent portrait painter of his era, recognized for his elegant style. His reputation allowed him to secure significant commissions from the city's wealthy elite and even from the Stadtholder's court, underscoring his position within Dutch society.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Bartholomeus van der Helst

Artist

Bartholomeus van der Helst

Bartholomeus van der Helst (1613 – buried 16 December 1670) was a Dutch painter. Considered to be one of the leading portrait painters of the Dutch Golden Age, his elegant portraits gained him the patronage of…

Rijksmuseum

Museum

Rijksmuseum

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Rijksmuseum open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.