(1) The painter does, however, bring men into the scene, and visitors from every walk of life - wealthy families, burghers , clergymen, farmers.(2) Holland was from the mid-1600s a Republic, so the wealthy merchants, burghers , and businessmen became the defacto rulers of the town and country - much as it is in the U.S. today.(3) These works were initially commissioned by members of the church, noblemen, and wealthy burghers .(4) It had a lively artistic community and its wealthy burghers , together with the Church and the court at Brussels, provided patrons.(5) I'd feel better, though, if the city's burghers had shown some concern about the defacing and trashing that define this city every day.
