Jacob de Gheyn Portraits of Armour-bearers 1607 set of four Flemish etchings depicting soldiers in military uniform with medieval weapons such as pikes, halberds, and lances; they represent an important example of the engraving art of the late Mannerist period. De Gheyn, a Dutch painter and engraver, one of the most influential Flemish artists of his time, dedicated a significant part of his career to the representation of military subjects, a theme that was particularly relevant in 17th-century Europe, characterized by conflicts and wars. The prints are part of the work Wapenhandelinghe van Roers, Musquetten ende Spiessen, a manual on the exercise of arms that not only offers instructions on the use of weapons but also serves as a historical document capable of providing information on the customs and life of soldiers of that era. The engravings in the volume illustrate a wide range of military figures, with particular attention to the details of uniforms and weapons, reflecting the tactical and military evolution following the Union of Utrecht in 1579. The central figures of this Baroque work, the armour-bearers with halberds, pikes, lances, or swords, symbolize not only power and nobility but also an era in which innovative warfare strategies and infantry organization, promoted by figures like Maurice, Count of Nassau, transformed the European battlefield. Each individual sheet on laid paper measures 355 x 230 mm and is in good condition, presented within an ivory mount measuring 45 x 35 cm.
