Terms and conditions of use
Interior with soldiers
(1620s)
Medium
oil on wood panel
Measurements
55.7 × 40.3 cm
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1931
Gallery location
17th Century & Flemish Paintings Gallery
Level 2, NGV International
About this work
Scenes of soldiers formed a popular subgenre of Dutch art known as kortegaardjes, derived from the French term corps de garde for the military post where the changing of the guard took place. Soldiers were a familiar sight in the Dutch countryside during the Eighty Years War (1568–1648). The motif of sleeping soldiers may allude to the Roman soldiers who fell asleep while guarding Christ’s tomb and were therefore oblivious to his resurrection.
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
the Netherlands
Accession Number
4563-3
Department
International Painting
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of Digitisation Champion Ms Carol Grigor through Metal Manufactures Limited
Subjects (general)
Human Figures Military and Warfare
Subjects (specific)
armour (protective wear) barrels (containers) doorways men (male humans) saddles (seats) seated figures sleeping soldiers
Frame
Reproduction, 2003, based on a Dutch frame from 1618
Frame
The former framing of Interior with soldiers, c.1620, acquired in 1931 from the same sale as The Descent From the Cross (4560-3), was in the manner of pierced and scrolled eighteenth century English frames, though most likely made in the nineteenth century.
In 2003, at the time the painting was cleaned, a new frame was proposed.
The frame selected was a box frame dating from 1618.
Box frames were a common form of Dutch frame up to around 1630.
The frame was made from European oak and given an ebonised finish.
The painting was fitted in the frame in 2003.
Frame Details
Framemaker
Reproduction - crafted by the NGV
Date
2003
Materials
ebonised European oak