Voetboogdoelen, Amsterdam
The Voetboogdoelen was a 16th-century building on the Singel canal in Amsterdam, at the corner of Heiligeweg near Koningsplein square, which served as headquarters and shooting range of the local schutterij. Frans Hals painted a group portrait for the Voetboogdoelen, known as the Meagre Company.
17th-century depiction of the Singel canal showing (from left to right) the Handboogdoelen, Bushuis and Voetboogdoelen
Drawing of the Voetboogdoelen by Gerrit Lamberts, early 19th century
Cornelis Anthonisz. (1533), Banquet of Members of Amsterdam's Crossbow Civic Guard
Cornelis Ketel (1588), The Company of Captain Dirck Jacobsz Rosecrans and Lieutenant Pauw
The Meagre Company, or The Company of Captain Reinier Reael and Lieutenant Cornelis Michielsz Blaeuw, refers to the only militia group portrait, or schutterstuk, painted by Frans Hals outside of Haarlem. Today the painting is in the collection of the Amsterdam Museum, on loan to the Rijksmuseum, where it is considered one of its main attractions of the Honor Gallery. Hals was unhappy about commuting to Amsterdam to work on the painting and, unlike his previous group portraits, was unable to deliver it on time. The sitters contracted Pieter Codde to finish the work.
The Meagre Company, 1633-1637
The Officers of the St Adrian Militia Company in 1633. The portraits of the men are cut off at the knee in the traditional Haarlem style
The figure of the standard-bearer in the extreme left corner, right up against the frame
The Voetboogdoelen drawn by Gerrit Lamberts around 1820.