Art appreciation ( part one)

One in a short series looking at the stories behind some of our great works of art.

The Night of the Long Pea Shooter - by Rembrandt, 1642

Although often referred to as a 'night' scene, it is obvious (note the giveaway digital clock in the corner) that Rembrandt painted this just around tea time.
His painting of Captain Frans Banning Cocq (painters were not very imaginative with their names in those days) and his stylish sidekick, depicts not only the dawn of the innovative long range pea shooter but also captures a moment in time when the cummerbund could not decide where it was supposed to be.
This disparate scene shows the supporters and dissenters of the newly introduced 'Dutchy' pea shooter. Rembrandt shows us that the fashion conscious have embraced this new weaponry but has not forgotten to remind us of the 'stick-in-the-canals' to the left who are fiercely holding on to their pointy sticks.
An early version of camouflage is shown with the 'dutchy' roughly draped in a pair of curtains (the man in green has co-ordinated perfectly). We are also shown that ignorance was rife - note the man in red trying to wedge his peas down the barrel of his gun.
To the right, Rembrandt shows us the evolution of the mobile pea barrel and also the forerunner to an army uniform dress code, although only the use of identical moustaches can be detected.

History is alive and peashooting from the hip!