Andries Stilte as a Standard Bearer by Johannes Verspronck

Johannes Cornelisz. Verspronck, Andries Stilte as a Standard Bearer, 1640, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Patrons’ Permanent Fund 1998.13.1

Flag and sash

Andries Stilte's brilliant blue sash and flag mark his recent election to the position of ensign, or standard-bearer, in Haarlem's Kloveniersdoelen, a civic militia company. (A klovenier was a type of simple firearm.) Portraits of individual ensigns are virtually unheard of in Dutch art, suggesting that this role held special significance for Stilte.