Artwork

Officers and other civic guardsmen of the XIth District of Amsterdam, under the command of Captain Geurt Dircksz van Beuningen and Lieutenant Pieter Martensz Hoeffijser

Officers and other civic guardsmen of the XIth District of Amsterdam, under the command of Captain Geurt Dircksz van Beuningen and Lieutenant Pieter Martensz Hoeffijser, by Jan Tengnagel, oil, 1613
Officers and other civic guardsmen of the XIth District of Amsterdam, under the command of Captain Geurt Dircksz van Beuningen and Lieutenant Pieter Martensz Hoeffijser, by Jan Tengnagel, oil, 1613

Officers and other civic guardsmen of the XIth District of Amsterdam, under the command of Captain Geurt Dircksz van Beuningen and Lieutenant Pieter Martensz Hoeffijser is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan Tengnagel. It dates from 1613 and is held in the collection of the Amsterdam Museum.

About this work

Overview

Jan Tengnagel's 1613 oil painting, "Officers and other civic guardsmen of the XIth District of Amsterdam, under the command of Captain Geurt Dircksz van Beuningen and Lieutenant Pieter Martensz Hoeffijser," captures a moment from the Dutch Golden Age. This large-scale work depicts a Schutterij, or civic guard company, from Amsterdam's XIth District, led by Captain Geurt Dircksz van Beuningen and Lieutenant Pieter Martensz Hoeffijser. It represents a departure from Tengnagel's more common religious themes and is a notable example of a group portrait from the period, now housed in the Rijksmuseum.

Subject & Meaning

The painting portrays the officers and members of a Schutterij, a voluntary militia responsible for city defense and order in the Dutch Republic.

The painting portrays the officers and members of a Schutterij, a voluntary militia responsible for city defense and order in the Dutch Republic. Captain Geurt Dircksz van Beuningen and Lieutenant Pieter Martensz Hoeffijser are central figures among the assembled guardsmen. The scene, set within the Handboogdoelen, a civic guard headquarters, shows the men gathered around a table laden with food and drink, engaging in conversation, reflecting their camaraderie and social standing.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil paint, this work exemplifies the detailed realism characteristic of the Dutch Golden Age. Tengnagel meticulously renders the elaborate collars, weaponry, and varied expressions of each guardsman, creating a lively and engaging composition. The arrangement of figures around a table, with elements of still life, allows for a dynamic interplay of gazes and gestures, capturing a sense of shared experience and individual presence within the group.

Context

Jan Tengnagel, an Amsterdam-born painter, completed this civic portrait in 1613. While primarily recognized for his religious and biblical narratives, this commission stands as a significant exception within his relatively small body of work. His artistic development included training under Frans Badens and a formative period in Rome between 1608 and 1611, experiences that likely influenced his approach to composition and figure representation, even in a secular context.

History & Provenance

This group portrait by Jan Tengnagel was created in 1613, a period when such commissions were highly valued by civic organizations in the Netherlands. The painting has since become part of the esteemed collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Its preservation in a national institution underscores its historical and artistic importance as a document of Dutch civic life and a representative work from the early 17th century.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Jan Tengnagel

Artist

Jan Tengnagel

Jan Tengnagel (baptised 9 September 1584– buried 23 March 1635) was a Dutch draughtsman and painter.

Amsterdam Museum

Museum

Amsterdam Museum

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