Soldier on guard covering the pan of his musket with two fingers to prevent sparks (no. 42), ca. 1600
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A soldier on guard, full-length, facing right, holding a arquebus (a specific type of firearm) in his left hand (no. 42), ca. 1600. On the cock (part of the ignition mechanism) of his arquebus lies the burning match. With his index and middle finger of his right hand he covers the pan (the powder reservoir) of his arquebus to protect the powder from sparks of the match. Plate 42 in the instructions for handling the arquebus: Corte onderwysinghe op de figuerliicke afbeeldinghe, belanghende t'rechte ghebruyck des Roers. Part of the illustrations in: J. de Gheyn, Wapenhandelinghe van Roers Musquetten ende spiessen, 's-Gravenhage, 1607. Military affairs around 1600.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s own descriptionSimilar works
Soldier on guard holding his musket diagonally upward at his right side, finger on the trigger (no. 36), ca. 1600
Soldier on guard with a musket bringing his match to his mouth to blow it clean (no. 39), ca. 1600
Soldier on guard covering the pan of his arquebus with two fingers to protect against sparks (no. 42), ca. 1600
Soldier taking his ramrod from the holder beneath the barrel of his musket (no. 24), ca. 1600
Soldier on guard with a musket bringing his match to his mouth to blow it clean (no. 39), ca. 1600
Soldier adjusting the match on the cock of his musket to the correct position and shape (no. 8), ca. 1600