A gathering of the bearded men of the Amsterdam crossbow militia guild. Together with the longbow archers and the harquebusiers, they defended the city against attacks from outside and unrest from within the city walls. They practiced at their target ranges called Doelen. However, the bow cannot be drawn all the time. In addition to target practice, members also relaxed by eating and drinking. There is a jug of wine on the table and to the top left, a member is holding a note with the inscription ‘in vino veritas’: in wine there is truth. This crossbow guild commissioned its group portrait from Dirck Barentsz, a Dutch painter who had just returned from Venice, where he had worked in the studio of the famous Titian. The Italian influence can be seen in the vibrancy of the group composition. Group portraits of militia guild members were proudly displayed on the walls of the buildings of the civic guard in the cities of Holland. Increasingly so in the years that would follow… - Before you enter the Great Hall, please activate your audio player, to the left of the entrance.