Annual competition of the Archers’ Guild

Recently added to our collections, this painting portrays the Annual competition of the Archers’ Guild at the foot of the Wollendriestoren. The work of the Brussels painter Gillis van Tilborgh (1625-1678).

This oil painting on canvas shows the population of Brussels assembled on the occasion of the annual competition of the archers’ guild.  In the middle, the archers try to shoot a ‘bird’ placed on a mast at the top of the tower. This tall tower, known as the Wollendries tower, owes its name to its proximity to the rue aux Laines (wool street).
Mentioned as early as 1423, it was the largest tower of Brussels’ second city wall.
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