Artwork

Regents of the Almshouse, 1729

Regents of the Almshouse, 1729, by Cornelis Troost, oil, 1729
Regents of the Almshouse, 1729, by Cornelis Troost, oil, 1729

Regents of the Almshouse, 1729 is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Cornelis Troost. It dates from 1729 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Technique & Style

Regents of the Almshouse, 1729 is executed in oil paint on canvas, a standard support for Dutch group portraiture of the period.

Regents of the Almshouse, 1729 is executed in oil paint on canvas, a standard support for Dutch group portraiture of the period. The painting measures 92.5 cm in height by 114 cm in width, a horizontal format well suited to arranging multiple regents in a single composition.

Stylistically, the work is associated with the Rococo movement, reflecting Cornelis Troost's engagement with the lighter, more decorative tendencies that distinguished his practice from the stricter classicism of earlier Dutch portrait traditions. As a regents group portrait, a specifically Dutch genre depicting the governing board of an institutional almshouse, the work belongs to a long-standing portrait tradition adapted here through a Rococo-inflected handling.

History & Provenance

Cornelis Troost executed the group portrait Regents of the Almshouse in 1729. Created as an oil painting on canvas, the work measures 92.5 cm in height and 114 cm in width. The piece was commissioned to depict the regents of a charitable institution, fitting within the Rococo movement's stylistic tendencies of the period.

Today, the painting is held in the collections of major Dutch institutions, specifically the Rijksmuseum and the Amsterdam Museum, where it remains preserved as a significant example of eighteenth-century portraiture.

Context

The painting Regents of the Almshouse, 1729 by Cornelis Troost represents a leading example of 18th-century Dutch group portraiture within the Rococo movement. Executed in oil on canvas, its dimensions of 92.5 cm by 114 cm were produced for the Amsterdam Almshouse and later entered the collections of both the Rijksmuseum and the Amsterdam Museum. Contemporary scholarship identifies it as a defining work of the Regents group portrait genre, reflecting Troost's role in shaping civic imagery during the late Dutch Golden Age.

Its composition and execution have been analyzed for their blend of realistic detail and decorative Rococo elements, situating the piece within broader discussions of patronage, civic identity, and artistic innovation in 18th-century Netherlands.

Overview

Regents of the Almshouse is a 1729 oil painting by Cornelis Troost, a work associated with the Rococo movement.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a group of formally dressed men in an ornate interior, gathered around a table. The scene conveys a sense of authority and solemnity, suggesting a meeting or discussion of some importance.

Regents of the Almshouse in 1729
Regents of the Almshouse in 1729, Cornelis Troost

Artist & collection

Portrait of Cornelis Troost

Artist

Cornelis Troost

Cornelis Troost (8 October 1696 – 7 March 1750) was a Dutch actor and painter from Amsterdam.

Rijksmuseum

Museum

Rijksmuseum

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Frequently asked questions

Who painted Regents of the Almshouse, 1729?

Regents of the Almshouse, 1729 was painted by Cornelis Troost in 1729-01-01.

Where can I see Regents of the Almshouse, 1729?

Regents of the Almshouse, 1729 is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Regents of the Almshouse, 1729?

Regents of the Almshouse, 1729 is associated with Rococo painting.

Can I buy a print of Regents of the Almshouse, 1729?

Museum-quality prints of Regents of the Almshouse, 1729 are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.