Artwork

Six regents and the housemaster of the Oude Zijds Almshouse for the outdoor relief of the poor, Amsterdam, 1675

Six regents and the housemaster of the Oude Zijds Almshouse for the outdoor relief of the poor, Amsterdam, 1675 is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Pieter van Anraedt. It dates from 1675 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Overview

The composition arranges the officials around a long table draped in a rich cloth, emphasizing their collective authority and the institution's order.

Painted in 1675, this group portrait by Pieter van Anraedt depicts six regents and the housemaster of the Oude Zijds Almshouse in Amsterdam. The composition arranges the officials around a long table draped in a rich cloth, emphasizing their collective authority and the institution's order. Dressed in the somber black robes and wide-brimmed hats characteristic of Dutch civic leaders of the era, the figures engage in quiet administrative activity; one leans forward on the table, while another holds a document, suggesting the ongoing management of poor relief. A servant stands in the background doorway, adding depth and reinforcing the hierarchy within the scene. Van Anraedt employs a restrained palette and controlled lighting, likely entering from a window on the left, to model the figures with a sense of solidity and realism. This work exemplifies the artist's mature style, bridging the gap between the earlier, more rigid group portraits and the softer, more atmospheric approaches of the late Dutch Golden Age. Created just three years before the artist's death, it stands as a significant example of Amsterdam civic portraiture, documenting the social welfare structures of the city with dignity and precision.

Subject & Meaning

The composition gathers the six male regents, all dressed in black robes and wide‑brimmed hats, around a long table draped with an elaborate cloth. A housemaster stands nearby, while a servant is positioned in the doorway. The gathering suggests a formal deliberation—likely concerning the administration of outdoor relief for the poor—capturing the civic responsibility of the trustees.

Technique & Style

Van Anraedt employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, allowing a shaft of daylight from a left‑hand window to illuminate the faces and hands of the figures against a subdued backdrop. The contrast of light and shadow emphasizes texture in the fabrics and the polished surface of the table, while the restrained palette reinforces the solemn atmosphere of the meeting.

History & Provenance

The painting has remained in the Netherlands since its completion, entering the Rijksmuseum’s holdings as part of its extensive collection of Dutch Golden Age civic art. Its provenance reflects the museum’s focus on preserving works that document the social and administrative structures of 17th‑century Amsterdam.