Rembrandt - his life, his work, and his time (1903) (14781981381)

Identifier: rembrandthislife00mich (find matches)

Title: Rembrandt : his life, his work, and his time

Year: 1903 (1900s)

Authors: Michel, Emile, 1828-1909 Wedmore, Frederick, Sir, 1844-1921

Subjects: Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, 1606-1669

Publisher: London : Heinemann New York : Scribner

Contributing Library: University of California Libraries

Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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ch was on his easel. But we shall perhaps be better able toappreciate this great picture if we briefly consider that special branchof painting to which it belongs, and the various works of the sameclass that preceded it. We have already described the important part played in Holland bythose guilds or corporations which embodied national enterprise at themost glorious period of Dutch history. Among these bodies nonewere more important and influential than the military companies.Unlike kindred associations in Flanders, which consistently preservedtheir original semi-religious character, the civic corps of thenorthern Netherlands soon adopted a purely national and independentorganisation. Encouraged by the clergy and princes, to whom theyfurnished guards of honour in the early years of their formation, ^ In 1770 this plate fell into the hands of a printseller at Berlin, who induced G. F.Schmidt to finish it. Fifty impressions were printed, in which the additions may bereadily detected. I

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5^ re .y. o ^^ ■ ..-:y^-^ THE PAINTERS OF THE MILITARY GUILDS 213 they gradually developed and extended. Their recruits were drawnfrom among the most prominent inhabitants of each city, and onthem the civic authorities relied for the maintenance of public orderand safety. Each guild had its place of assembly, or Doelen, andits drilling-ground, where its annual shooting competitions wereheld. The victor in these was proclaimed to the sound of trumpets ;a feast was held in his honour, and he generally received a prizefrom the town. In the primitive days these prizes were of nogreat value, and consisted for the most part of a silver cup or a fewspoons. The prizes for contests between neighbouring towns weremore important, and included drinking-horns, chains of silver-gilt withmedallions, and gold or silver vases richly chased. These werekept in the halls of the corporations, and formed a sort of reservefund. When the drill was over the chiefs of the corporation wereelected, and on thes

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1903

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