Who painted A group of militia men (schutters), 1529 (middle panel)?

A group of militia men (schutters), 1529 (middle panel) was painted by Dirck Jacobsz in 1529-01-01.

Where can I see A group of militia men (schutters), 1529 (middle panel)?

A group of militia men (schutters), 1529 (middle panel) is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is A group of militia men (schutters), 1529 (middle panel)?

A group of militia men (schutters), 1529 (middle panel) is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of A group of militia men (schutters), 1529 (middle panel)?

Museum-quality prints of A group of militia men (schutters), 1529 (middle panel) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

A group of militia men (schutters), 1529 (middle panel)

Dirck Jacobsz , 1529

A group of militia men (schutters), 1529 (middle panel) is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Dirck Jacobsz. It dates from 1529 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

The top row sits calmly behind a ledge, while the bottom row leans forward, some pointing or holding objects like a walking stick.

This painting shows two rows of men in dark clothes and black hats, all standing stiffly in front of a greenish background. The top row sits calmly behind a ledge, while the bottom row leans forward, some pointing or holding objects like a walking stick. Their faces are serious, and the colors are mostly dark browns, reds, and blacks.

The date "1532" is written on the ledge, but the painting is actually from 1529. The men look like they’re part of a group, maybe a guard or organization.

If you want to learn more, check out Schutterij.

Subject & Meaning

The middle panel of Dirck Jacobsz's 1529 triptych portrays a schutterij, a civic guard company, showing armed men in contemporary dress with caps and muskets. The composition emphasizes their role as defenders of the city. As a schutterstuk, the work celebrates collective militia identity and civic pride, reflecting the importance of organized defense in the period. The subject is therefore a representation of communal responsibility and readiness to protect the republic.

Technique & Style

The middle panel is painted in oil on an oak panel support and measures 119.3 cm in height by 174.4 cm in width. The handling is restrained and precise, with smooth modeling of the figures' faces set against more freely worked drapery, and a generally subdued, earth-toned palette. The composition balances symmetry with the lively interaction of the militiamen, in keeping with the conventions of early sixteenth-century Dutch civic-guard portraiture.

History & Provenance

Created in 1529 by Dirck Jacobsz, this oil-on-panel work is the central component of a triptych. It depicts a group of militia men and is classified as a schutterstuk portraying members of a schutterij (civic guard). Measuring 119.3 by 174.4 cm, it is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, and was included in the exhibition Remember Me.

Overview

Dirck Jacobsz's oil painting, titled A group of militia men (schutters), dates from 1529 and serves as the middle panel of a larger work. This Northern Renaissance piece, now held in the Rijksmuseum, portrays a formal assembly of a civic guard. It offers a detailed glimpse into the Schutterij, a local militia, reflecting the period's established practice of group portraiture.