Claes van Cruijsbergen (1613- 1663), shield bearer

1st: Home; 2nd: by Rembrandt (1642); 3rd: by Lundens (1649).

This shield bearer, whose surname also appears as Cruysbergen, had the main task of protecting ensign Visscher¹² to his right.

Like Wormskerck⁰⁵, he carries a large shield, or rondache, in his left hand and a broad sword with a hilt protector in his right. Both items are already old-fashioned by 1642, which may have been part of their charm.

Van Cruijsbergen was a merchant and grocer and, together with Bronchorst⁰⁴, one of the men who provided details about the payments to Rembrandt for The Night Watch.
Only after the major restoration of 1947, when his name was identified as the second to last on the name shield³⁵, did a curious document suddenly make sense. In it, he attested:

"... explains how true it is: that the piece of painting stood on the Cleuveniersdoelen by Rembrandt van Rhijn painted in which the attestation was also paid for, the painting cost the sum of sixteen hundred guilders. Giving the attestation for acknowledgement, that he has paid his share therewith, has heard several times said as to be done."

He testified this before the guardian of Rembrandts son Titus after Rembrandts bankruptcy. A practical man, doing his administrative duty long after the paint had dried.

Van Cruijsbergen wears an old 16th century helmet, perhaps an ornament from the collection of the 2nd district militia, like several other costumes in the painting, or perhaps from his own collection.

He was the grandson of the captain of the 3rd district and also a member of the cloth guild. His wealth was sufficient for him to retire at the age of 37 (1650).