Regentesses of the Old Men's Alms House
- Showpiece
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Frans Hals
The four regentesses who formed part of the board of the Oudenmannenhuis (Old men’s almshouse) in 1664 were Adriaentje Schouten, Marijtje Willems, Anna van Damme and Adrianana Bredenhoff. They have been portrayed, together with the matron, in this group portrait by Frans Hals. The painting seen in the background could be a depiction of the Good Samaritan, a subject that illustrates the charity work of the regentesses.
The portraits of the regentesses – as well as the portraits of the regents – have been admired over the centuries, but they have also been reviled. Admired for the way in which they were painted, particularly having impact on the Impressionists and Realists of the 19th century. And reviled because it was thought that the portraits of the regentesses were not very flattering.
For a long time it was thought that Frans Hals had lived in the Old men’s almshouse. It is believed that he wanted to take revenge on the strict board members with his portraits of both the regentesses and the regents. But Frans Hals never lived in the Old men’s almshouse. It is, however, known that Frans Hals lived in Groot Heiligland with his large family in the 1630s, the street where the Old men’s almshouse stood at the time.
- Creator
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- schilder: Frans Hals
- Date of creation
- 1664
- Object type
- easel paintings (paintings by form)
- Dimensions
- Collection
- Paintings from the Frans Hals Museum
- Institution
- Source
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- OS-I-116 (schilderij), Kunstwerken uit het Frans Hals Museum, Haarlem
- Copyright
- for information contact: Frans Hals Museum
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