The “Banquet of the Officers of the St. George Civic Guard” has that characteristic lifelike trademark of Hals’ work. You feel as if you’ve just interrupted the frat boys at their kegger. And from the mocking looks on their faces, they’re not particularly impressed with you. The Civic Guards were wealthy merchants, bankers, and tradesmen who’d been elected by citizens to protect the city in case of attack. Methinks meetings were mostly an excuse to party. Hals, Rembrandt, and other Dutch Masters painted lots of Civic Guard portraits during their careers.