Amsterdam, 1654. Rembrandt van Rijn paints a prestigious man, likely Floris Soop, a wealthy bachelor and collector who owned 140 paintings. The painter seeks to capture the essence of an ensign of the civic guard, the bourgeois militia responsible for the city’s protection.
A Portrait of Power and Detail
The man stands before us, imposing. His right hand firmly grasps the pole of a red flag, the symbol of his military rank. A white plume on his wide-brimmed black hat adds a touch of elegance. The richly ornamented, embossed leather baldric crosses his chest like a mark of honor. Rembrandt handles the paint with virtuosity: the thick, curly hair seems almost tangible, the light caresses the strong features of his face. The sitter’s direct gaze expresses authority and character.
The Civic Guard, Pride of Amsterdam
During the Dutch Golden Age, the civic guards embodied bourgeois power. These citizen militiamen defended the Dutch Republic and commissioned group or individual portraits to affirm their social status. Rembrandt excelled in this art form, beginning with his famous Night Watch (1642). Here, he offers his subject an intimate yet majestic representation, far removed from group compositions. The painting testifies to Amsterdam’s prosperity.
Rembrandt, Master of the Human Soul
Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669) revolutionized Dutch portraiture with his ability to capture the psychology of his subjects. His dramatic treatment of light and expressive brushstrokes make him one of the greatest European Baroque painters.
Think about it
💭 Between the image this man wanted to project and the one Rembrandt chose to reveal, which one are we truly contemplating?
About This Artwork
- The Standard-Bearer (probably Floris Soop, 1604–1657)
- Rembrandt van Rijn, 1654
- Oil on canvas
- 140.3 × 114.9 cm (55 1/4 × 45 1/4 in.)
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
- https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/437395
