Soldier with Harquebus: Officers and Soldiers of Emperor Rudolf II's Guard

An elegantly dressed soldier in mid-stride carries a musket, wearing a plumed hat and intricate slashed doublet. In the background, a military encampment with tents and small figures provides context for his role. The print is part of a celebrated series by Goltzius showcasing the elite guard of the Imperial court in Prague.

This work belongs to a series dedicated to the bodyguard of Emperor Rudolf II, a monarch whose court became the primary European hub for alchemy, Hermeticism, and natural philosophy. The series reflects the Mannerist aesthetic favored at the Rudolfine court, characterized by technical virtuosity and the cultivation of a refined, courtly identity.