Soldier adjusting the match on the cock of his musket (no. 42), ca. 1600
From the collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
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) upon which the barrel rests (no. 42), ca. 1600. With his thumb and middle finger of his right hand he places the lit match on the hammer (part of the ignition mechanism) of his musket in the correct position and shape. Plate 42 in the instructions for handling the musket: Shorte instruction for the figures, so much concerneth the right use of muskett. Part of the illustrations in an English edition of J. de Gheyn's Wapenhandelinghe: J. de Gheyn, The exercise of armes for calivres, muskettes and pikes after the ordre of Maurits Prince of Orange, 's-Gravenhage 1608. Military affairs around 1600.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s own descriptionSimilar works
Soldier on guard with a musket bringing his match to his mouth to blow it clean (no. 40), ca. 1600
Soldier on guard holding his musket diagonally upward at his right side, finger on the trigger (no. 37), ca. 1600
Soldier holding his musket upright with his right hand (no. 32), ca. 1600
Soldier with a musket bringing his match to his mouth to blow it clean (no. 7), ca. 1600
Soldier on guard with a musket taking hold of his match (no. 39), ca. 1600
Soldier on guard pressing the match to the cock of his musket (no. 41), ca. 1600