Gilles Coignet: Portrait of Pierson la Hues (1581)

(Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium)

A painting by the Flemish artist Gilles Coignet (1542-1599). The inscription on the stone in the lower left corner identifies the man on this painting as Pierson la Hues who acted as the drummer in the Old Archers' Guild of probably Antwerp. Pierson la Hues is shown in his office attire with a large drum and guild decorations (called in Dutch a 'Gildebreuk') which consists of several silver plates. On his belt he has a black bag with several letters - this means that Pierson la Hues also acted as messenger with his guild. Painting from 1581.