Soldier on guard giving the match the correct position and shape on the cock of his arquebus (no. 41), 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 matchlock (a specific type of firearm) with his left hand (no. 41), ca. 1600. With his thumb and middle finger of his right hand he gives the lit match on the cock (part of the ignition mechanism) of his matchlock the correct position and shape. This is the same position as the one shown in the eighth print of the series. Plate 41 in the instructions for handling the matchlock: Brief enseignement, sur la representation des figures, du droit maniement de l'Harquebuse. Part of the illustrations in a French edition of J. de Gheyn's Wapenhandelinghe: J. de Gheyn, Maniement d'armes, d'arquebuses, mousquetz et piques : en conformité de l'ordre de Mour le Prince Maurice, Prince d'Orange, Amsterdam 1608. Military affairs around 1600.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s own descriptionSimilar works
Soldier on guard with an arquebus bringing the match to his mouth to blow it clean (no. 39), ca. 1600
Soldier on guard pressing the match onto the cock of his arquebus (no. 40), ca. 1600
Soldier on guard with a musket bringing his match to his mouth to blow it clean (no. 39), ca. 1600
Soldier blowing the match and covering the pan with his fingers (no. 9), ca. 1600.
Soldier on guard shaping the match on the cock of his musket to the correct position and form (no. 41), ca. 1600
Soldier on guard with a musket taking hold of his match (no. 38), ca. 1600