Artwork
The Regents of the Leper's house in Amsterdam in 1649
The Regents of the Leper's house in Amsterdam in 1649 is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Ferdinand Bol. It dates from 1649 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
Bol’s handling is precise and smooth, with careful modeling of faces and drapery to convey individual likenesses and social standing.
The painting is executed in oil on canvas, a standard support for Dutch group portraits of the mid-seventeenth century. Bol’s handling is precise and smooth, with careful modeling of faces and drapery to convey individual likenesses and social standing. The palette remains subdued, dominated by earth tones and muted blacks punctuated by the white linen of the tablecloth and the vivid red of the regents’ sashes, which anchor the composition.
Stylistic features include a restrained, almost sculptural treatment of forms, a shallow, stage-like space, and a balanced, symmetrical arrangement of figures around the table, reflecting the disciplined conventions of civic portraiture in Amsterdam during the 1640s.
Context
The 1649 painting titled The Regents of the Leper’s House, created by Ferdinand Bol, is documented as a group portrait executed in oil on canvas. It is classified within the portrait genre and depicts the governing board of a charitable almshouse, reflecting the institutional focus of mid‑17th‑century Amsterdam. The work is part of the collections of the Rijksmuseum and the Amsterdam Museum, situating it among major Dutch museum holdings. Its date, material, and composition are noted as characteristic of Bol’s group portraiture.
Overview
Painted by Ferdinand Bol in 1649, The Regents of the Leper's House in Amsterdam is an oil portrait from the Dutch Golden Age. This work depicts a gathering of the governing board responsible for the leper's asylum in Amsterdam. It captures a moment of their administrative duties, showcasing Bol's skill in group portraiture. The painting is currently housed in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
Subject & Meaning
The composition features six men, likely members of the governing body for Amsterdam's leper's house, seated around a table draped with a distinctive red cloth. One regent is shown actively writing in a large book, while another holds a quill, suggesting ongoing administrative tasks. A young boy stands nearby, observing the proceedings. These elements collectively emphasize the serious and organized nature of the regents' civic responsibilities.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ferdinand Bol (24 June 1616 - 24 August 1680) was a Dutch painter, etcher and draftsman.
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