Soldier carrying his pike almost horizontally over his right shoulder (no. 9), ca. 1600
From the collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
A soldier, full-length, facing right, carrying a pike (spear) almost horizontally above his right shoulder (no. 9), ca. 1600. His hands far apart to hold the pike. This is the second action for raising the pike to the shoulder and carrying it horizontally. Plate 9 in the instructions for handling the pike: Brief instruction upon the contrefaictinges, concerning the right use, of all what a Souldier needeth to know in handling of the Pike. 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 holding his pike upright with both hands high above the ground (no. 3), ca. 1600
Soldier carrying his spear with both hands horizontally at shoulder height, his right hand at the foot of the weapon (no. 14), ca. 1600
Soldier with a musket sliding his right hand toward the end of his ramrod (no. 28), ca. 1600
Soldier carrying his pike with his left hand at his right side, the point angled upwards (no. 13), ca. 1600
Soldier carrying his spear horizontally on his right shoulder (no. 26), ca. 1600
Soldier pulling his ramrod from the barrel of his musket (no. 27), ca. 1600