Soldier on guard covering the pan of his musket with two fingers against sparks (no. 43), ca. 1600

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. 43), ca. 1600. On the hammer (part of the ignition mechanism) of his musket lies the lit match. With the index and middle finger of his right hand he covers the pan (the powder reservoir) of his musket to protect the powder from sparks from the match. Plate 43 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.