The humblest volunteer in the ranks of art, who has served a campaign or two ever so ingloriously, has at least this good fortune of understanding, or fancying he is able to understand, how the battle has been fought, and how the engaged general won it.This is the Rhinelander's most brilliant achievement--victory along the whole line.The "Night-watch" at Amsterdam is magnificent in parts, but on the side to the spectator's right, smoky and dim.The "Five Masters of the Drapers" is wonderful for depth, strength, brightness, massive power.What words are these to express a picture! to describe a description! I once saw a moon riding in the sky serenely, attended by her sparkling maids of honor, and a little lady said, with an air of great satisfaction, "I MUST SKETCH IT."Ah, my dear lady, if with an H.B., a Bristol board, and a bit of india-rubber, you can sketch the starry firmament on high, and the moon in her glory, I make you my compliment! I can't sketch "The Five Drapers" with any ink or pen at present at command--but can look with all my eyes, and be thankful to have seen such a masterpiece.
They say he was a moody, ill-conditioned man, the old tenant of the mill.What does he think of the "Vander Helst" which hangs opposite his "Night-watch," and which is one of the great pictures of the world? It is not painted by so great a man as Rembrandt; but there it is--to see it is an event of your life.Having beheld it you have lived in the year 1648, and celebrated the treaty of Munster.
You have shaken the hands of the Dutch Guardsmen, eaten from their platters, drunk their Rhenish, heard their jokes, as they wagged their jolly beards.The Amsterdam Catalogue discourses thus about it:--a model catalogue: it gives you the prices paid, the signatures of the painters, a succinct description of the work.
"This masterpiece represents a banquet of the civic guard, which took place on the 18th June, 1648, in time great hall of the St.
Joris Doele, on the Singel at Amsterdam, to celebrate the conclusion of the Peace at Munster.The thirty-five figures composing the picture are all portraits.
"'The Captain WITSE' is placed at the head of the table, and attracts our attention first.He is dressed in black velvet, his breast covered with a cuirass, on his head a broad-brimmed black hat with white plumes.He is comfortably seated on a chair of black oak, with a velvet cushion, and holds in his left hand, supported on his knee, a magnificent drinking-horn, surrounded by a St.George destroying the dragon, and ornamented with olive-leaves.The captain's features express cordiality and good-humor; he is grasping the hand of 'Lieutenant VAN WAVERN' seated near him, in a habit of dark gray, with lace and buttons of gold, lace-collar and wristbands, his feet crossed, with boots of yellow leather, with large tops, and gold spurs, on his head a black hat and dark-brown plumes.Behind him at the centre of the picture, is the standard- bearer, 'JACOBBANNING,' in an easy martial attitude, hat in hand, his right hand on his chair, his right leg on his left knee.He holds the flag of blue silk, in which the Virgin is embroidered, (such a silk! such a flag! such a piece of painting!) emblematic of the town of Amsterdam.
The banner covers his shoulder, and he looks towards the spectator frankly and complacently.
"The man behind him is probably one of the sergeants.His head is bare.He wears a cuirass, and yellow gloves, gray stockings, and boots with large tops, and kneecaps of cloth.He has a napkin on his knees, and in his hand a piece of ham, a slice of bread, and a knife.The old man behind is probably 'WILLIAM THE DRUMMER.' He has his hat in his right hand, and in his left a gold-footed wineglass, filled with white wine.He wears a red scarf, and a black satin doublet, with little slashes of yellow silk.Behind the drummer, two matchlock-men are seated at the end of the table.One in a large black habit, a napkin on his knee, a hausse-col of iron, and a linen scarf and collar.He is eating with his knife.The other holds a long glass of white wine.Four musketeers, with different shaped hats, are behind these, one holding a glass, the three others with their guns on their shoulders.Other guests are placed between the personage who is giving the toast and the standard-bearer.One with his hat off, and his hand uplifted, is talking to another.The second is carving a fowl.A third holds a silver plate; and another, in the background, a silver flagon, from which he fills a cup.The corner behind the captain is filled by two seated personages, one of whom is peeling an orange.Two others are standing, armed with halberts, of whom one holds a plumed hat.
Behind him are other three individuals, one of them holding a pewter pot, on which the name 'Poock,' the landlord of the 'Hotel Doele,'
is engraved.At the back, a maid-servant is coming in with a pasty, crowned with a turkey.Most of the guests are listening to the captain.From an open window in the distance, the facades of two houses are seen, surmounted by stone figures of sheep."There, now you know all about it: now you can go home and paint just such another.If you do, do pray remember to paint the hands of the figures as they are here depicted; they are as wonderful portraits as the faces.None of your slim Van Dyck elegancies, which have done duty at the cuffs of so many doublets; but each man with a hand for himself, as with a face for himself.I blushed for the coarseness of one of the chiefs in this great company, that fellow behind "WILLIAM THE DRUMMER," splendidly attired, sitting full in the face of the public; and holding a pork-bone in his hand.