it is a group portrait of a militia company. these were groups of able - bodied men who, if the need arose, could be called upon to defend the city or put down riots. the painting depicts the company of captain frans banning cocq and his lieutenant, willem van ruytenburgh, surrounded by sixteen of their men. a shield above the gate bears the names of the eighteen people in the portrait, who paid for the work. the other people who appear in the painting were added by rembrandt with an eye to enhancing the composition.