Meeting of the Officers and Sergeants of the Calivermen Civic Guard
Meeting of the Officers and Sergeants of the Calivermen Civic Guard
Meeting of the Officers and Sergeants of the Calivermen Civic Guard
By Frans Hals
Meeting of the Officers and Sergeants of the Calivermen Civic Guard
Meeting of the Officers and Sergeants of the Calivermen Civic Guard
Meeting of the Officers and Sergeants of the Calivermen Civic Guard

Officers and subalterns of the Calivermen civic guard at an outdoor meeting. The highest-ranking men are in front: the colonel, captains and lieutenants. Behind them stand the sergeants; this was the first time Frans Hals included subalterns in a group portrait. At the left is Colonel Claesz van Loo (1), surrounded by guardsmen. At the right, less majestic, is Captain Andries van Hoorn (4) surrounded by guardsmen. The two groups are linked by Lieutenant Jacob Buttinga (5), who sits at the middle of the table. He belongs to the group at the left, but gazes to the right. Originally, the painting probably looked much more colourful: this can be seen in the trees in the background which have turned brown with the passage of time.