Artist: Frans Hals
Date: 1627
Museum: Frans Hals Museum (Haarlem, Netherlands)
Technique: Oil On Canvas
‘Very well handled from life’, wrote the Haarlem city historian Samuel Ampzing of this civic guard painting in his ‘’Beschrijvinge van de stad Haarlem’’ of 1628. The painting portrays the eleven officers of the Calivermen at their farewell banquet. In the background stands the servant, Willem Ruychaver. On the left at the head of the table sits the colonel, Willem Claesz Vooght. He can be recognized by his orange sash. Next to him sits the fiscal, Johan Damius, who is being handed a glass. The composition of the painting is balanced and carefully thought out. The members of the civic guard are divided into two groups linked in the composition by the officer with the knife: he belongs to the group on the right, but looks to the left. The position of officer in the civic guard was an honorary unpaid post. These posts were reserved for a small group of influential, well-to-do Haarlem citizens. In Haarlem, the owners of prosperous breweries were among the wealthiest people in the city. Captain Willem Warmont was the owner of the brewery known as ’t Gecroonde Ancker, Captain Johan Schatter owned the brewery De Gecroonde Ruyt and Ensign Loth Schout owned De Twee Gecroonde Starren. Fiscal Johan Damius was a physician, Lieutenant Outgert Akersloot a goldsmith. On the far left stands Ensign Adriaen Matham, draughtsman and engraver. In 1634 he was a witness at the baptism of Frans Hals’s daughter Suzanna. A striking note is the dog at his feet; this is the only dog in any of the Haarlem civic guard portraits.
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