Bartholomeus van der Helst was one of the most sought-after portrait painters of his day. In the 1650s he painted portraits of the headmen, or administrators, of the three Amsterdam civic guard groups. They are all on view in the Civic Guard Gallery. His picture of the headmen of the Arquebus Civic Guard House shows them holding a meeting, while downing generous helpings of bread and oysters. The four headmen here had served as officers in the civic guard and had been members of the city council since the 1640s. At the extreme left sits Cornelis Witsen (1605- 1669), who was appointed burgomaster of Amsterdam for the first time in 1653. Beside him is Simon van Hoorn (1618-1667). He also became burgomaster, in 1659. In 1660 he was ambassador at the court of King Charles II in England. The man turning towards the viewer is Roelof Bicker (1611-1656), also seen as standard-bearer in Pickenoy's Civic Guard Banquet. At the extreme right sits Gerrit Reynst (1599-1658), one of the city's most important art collectors. Behind the table stands the landlord of the Arquebus Civic Guard. His wife and son are also waiting at table.