Soldier carrying his pike with both hands spread wide over his right shoulder, the point angled towards the ground (no. 12), ca. 1600
From the collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
A soldier, full-length, carrying a pike (spear) above his right shoulder, the point directed diagonally towards the ground (no. 12), ca. 1600. His hands far apart to hold the pike. This is the first action for lowering the pike so as to pass under an overhang. Plate 12 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 carrying his pike with both hands far apart above his right shoulder, the point angled towards the ground (no. 12), ca. 1600
Soldier carrying his pike horizontally at shoulder height with both hands (no. 19), ca. 1600
Soldier carrying his spear with both hands wide apart above his right shoulder, the point angled towards the ground (no. 12), ca. 1600
Soldier carrying his spear with both hands horizontally at shoulder height, his right hand at the base of the weapon (no. 14), ca. 1600
Soldier carrying his pike horizontally at shoulder height with both hands, his right hand near the base of the weapon (no. 14), ca. 1600
Soldier carrying his spear with both hands at his right side, the point angled upward (no. 15), ca. 1600