Regentesses of the Old Men’s Alms House
Regentesses of the Old Men’s Alms House
Regentesses of the Old Men’s Alms House
By Frans Hals
Regentesses of the Old Men’s Alms House
Regentesses of the Old Men’s Alms House
Regentesses of the Old Men’s Alms House

Four governesses from the Old Men’s Home. The house mother is standing behind them. She and the house father conducted the daily household business. The painting in the background is perhaps a representation of the Good Samaritan, a subject that illustrates the charity of the regentesses. Earlier it was thought that Frans Hals had lived in the Old Men’s Home. It was suspected that he wanted to take revenge with these portraits of the regents and regentesses on the strict governors. That would explain why they were portrayed in such an unflattering manner. But Frans Hals never lived in the Old Men’s Home.