An excellent example of a guardroom scene is this work painted by Maerten Stoop in 1644. Especially successful in the painting are the magnificent poses of Stoop's figures and his accomplished rendering of texture.

A party of soldiers have found shelter in a deserted ruin. Having divested themselves of weapons and armour, they are playing a game of cards, drinking and smoking. The radiant focus of their attention is a young wench, whose bust has drawn the interest of at least one of the soldiers. The characters appear to be indifferent to the horses around them, in what seems to be a stable.

Yet, on closer inspection, the building appears to have niches in which statues once stood and near the entrance on the left we see a font. This convivial group is camped out in a ruined church, not a stable.

Undetected on the wall above, to the left, is a Madonna and Child. Maerten Stoop has rendered the Virgin and Christ so faintly that they could almost be an apparition. They are standing on a ray of light, as if descended from heaven to warn the revellers to change their ways. The light at the Virgin's feet shines directly onto the woman's face.

For the painter and the intelligent viewer this would have been no mere coincidence. Naturally, the viewer can enjoy the fun of the exuberant party. But it's not all pleasure. In the corner there's a subtle warning.