The Standard Bearer is a three-quarter-length self-portrait by Rembrandt formerly in the Paris collection of Elie de Rothschild, and purchased by the Rijksmuseum for 175 million euros with assistance from the Dutch state and Vereniging Rembrandt in 2021.

It was painted on the occasion of the artist's move from Leiden to Amsterdam and is seen as an important early work that "shows Rembrandt's ambition to paint a group portrait for the Amsterdam militia, at the time the most valued commission a painter could be awarded.

His portly countenance, which is seen in nearly a front view, denotes him to have been about fifty years of age; a large hat, turned up at the side, and decked with feathers, covers his head, and a steel cuirass shields his breast: the remainder of his habiliments are suitably rich and appropriate.

It was afterwards in the collection of his Majesty George IV., who exchanged it with M. Lafontaine for other pictures.Cornelis Hofstede de Groot agreed with him in 1914, but stopped short of calling it a self-portrait.

Over his yellowish-brown coat, trimmed with lace, he wears an iron gorget and a broad sash from which a sword hangs at his side.

Strong light from the left touches his back and his face and falls full on the banner.

G. F. J. de Verhulst, Brussels, August 16, 1779, No - 8o ( 354 florins or, according to other authorities, 1290 francs, Fouquet).

Sir Simon Clarke, Bart., London, May 8, 1840 (840, Baron James de Rothschild, Paris).

In the collection of Baron Henry de Rothschild, Paris.In 2019 the painting has been classified as a national treasure of France, so an export bar was in place for 30 months, while the Louvre tried to raise funds to buy the painting.

In December 2021, the Dutch state announced its intention to buy the work for the national collection.

It was bought from the Rothschild family, who had owned it since 1844,[6] via a trust located in the tax haven of the Cook Islands.

[7] The Standard Bearer is to tour every province in the Netherlands before going on display at the Rijksmuseum's Gallery of Honour.

[8] It was acquired during the COVID-19 pandemic amid media coverage of failing income for the Netherlands' cultural sector.