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Musketeer |
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An illustrated military exercise manual entitled The Exercise of Armes was published in 1607 by the graphic artist Jacob de Gheyn II. The publication reflected military reforms that took place in the Netherlands during the last 10 years of the 16th-century. Three groups of military exercises are portrayed in detailed engravings: the musketeers, as shown here; pikemen (as shown in our image map Pikeman); and the shot (a unit that carried a firearm called a caliver (not illustrated). |
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The
Musketeer
is holding a matchlock musket, or arquebus as it was called
in the 16th-century. From his shoulder hangs a bandolier—a strap
with hanging containers, each holding a measured amount of
powder. Note the "match" in his left hand, which would be
clasped by the serpentine—the "snake head"- shaped arm on
the lock plate. Check out the buttons on his sleeves, the sword, the
trigger guard, and the butt plate on the stock of the musket. |
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The men are shown from different views revealing objects from different angles. The de Gheyn engravings are especially useful for help in the identification of badly corroded metal artifacts recovered from early-17th-century sites in Virginia. |
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If you
have questions or information about comparable artifacts from Virginia
collections please contact |
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Click on
shaded areas of this
image to
see examples of artifacts from DHR archaeological collections.
