The drummer

Military themes were popular on both sides of the Eighty Years’ War (1568-1648). The most common image of the soldier’s life was the guardroom scene, a Gallic version of the tavern scene, where soldiers smoke, drink and play cards. However, this painting may have been executed for Leopold Wilhelm, commander-in-chief of the Spanish army in Flanders. It is strange, however, to depict the camp rather than the guardroom, but it attempts to convey the same aimless boredom of military life. Almost every military scene provides an excuse for the artist to depict a still life with as many different weapons as possible. Flemish artists such as Brueghel specialised in depicting allegorical figures surrounded by various attributes. In this case, the drummer could be an allegory of war accompanied by a variety of armour.

Collection: Images

Project: 6. Under a cloak of terror: violence and armed conflict in Europe.

Chronology: XVII

Scope: Secondary Education, Baccalaureate, University

Link: https://www.rct.uk/collection/406577/the-drummer