Soldier on guard shaping the match on the cock of his musket to the correct position and form (no. 42), ca. 1600
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A soldier on guard, full-length, facing right, holding a musket (a specific type of firearm) with his left hand at the fork of the fork (musket fork) on which the barrel rests (no. 42), ca. 1600. With his thumb and middle finger of his right hand he gives the lit match on the hammer (part of the ignition mechanism) of his musket the correct position and shape. Plate 42 in the instructions for handling the musket: Corte onderrechtinghe op de figuerlicke afbeeldinghe, soo veel aengaet het recht ghebruyck van Musquet. Part of the illustrations in: J. de Gheyn, Wapenhandelinghe van Roers Musquetten ende spiessen, Amsterdam, 1608. Military affairs around 1600.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s own descriptionSimilar works
Soldier on guard covering the pan of his musket with two fingers against sparks (no. 43), ca. 1600
Soldier on guard with a musket bringing the match to his mouth to blow it clean (no. 40), ca. 1600
Soldier on guard covering the pan of his musket with two fingers against sparks (no. 43), ca. 1600
Soldier on guard shaping the match on the hammer of his musket to the correct position and form (no. 42), ca. 1600
Soldier pushing powder and ball into the barrel of his musket with his ramrod (no. 27), ca. 1600
Soldier shaking powder from his musket (no. 19), ca. 1600