Bartholomeus van der Helst: The directors of the archery-guild of Amsterdam (1653)


(Amsterdam Museum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

A painting by the Dutch artist Bartholomeus van der Helst (1613-1670). This painting is part of a set of three, each portrait showing the 'board of directors' (in Dutch 'overlieden') of one of the three civic guard guilds: the crossbow-, the bow- and the musketguild. These men were usually recruited from the former captains of the civic guard and their position was permanent, for the rest of their live. The most left person is Frans Banninck Cocq (1605–1655). On the 'nightwatch' by Rembrandt, Frans was shown as a captain in the civic guard. Here, almost 11 years later, Frans had made promotion as a colonel, mayor and here as one of the directors of the civic guard. Also interesting are the silver objects which the commanders are holding and/ or showing - these were priced possessions of the guild. One of the is holding a scepter while another one is holding a silver necklace. These two objects are the trophies presented to the winner of the annual shooting contest. Also shown is the massive silver drinkinghorn while in the cabinet silver spoons and goblets are shown. A part of the responsibilities of the directors was the safekeeping of the silver objects of the civic guard. The painting presents the directors as the guardians of these silver objects and with that the history of the guild. The two boys on the right are sons of 2 commanders. Shown from left to right:

- Frans Banninck Cocq (1605–1655), captain of the civic guard, mayor of Amsterdam, member of the city council of Amsterdam, colonel of the civic guard
- a waitress, she is holding the massive silver drinkinghorn of the civic guard
- Jan van de Poll (1597–1678), mayor of Amsterdam, lieutenant of the civic guard, captain of the civic guard, politician
- Albert Dircksz Pater (1602–1659), owner of the brewery 'in the swan', mayor of Amsterdam
- Joan Willemsz Blaeu (1598–1673, captain of the civic guard, jurist, book-merchant, printer, cartographer

The two boys at the right:
- Dirck Pater (1643-1691), son of Albert Dircksz Pater, lawyer at the Herengracht at the house 'Bartolotti'
- Pieter Blaeu (1637-1706), son of Joan Willemsz Blaeu, printer, standardbearer of the civic guard, secretary at the orphanage.

Painting from 1653