Arnold Boonen: The regents of the municipal orphanage of Amsterdam (1716)

(Amsterdam Museum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

A painting by the Dutch artist Arnold Boonen (1669-1729). The municipal orphanage of Amsterdam (Dutch: Burgerweeshuis) was founded in 1520 by wealthy citizens of Amsterdam. The orphanage was exclusively intended for children of Amsterdam burghers (so foundlings and children of poor people were not admitted to the orphanage). In 1580 the municipal orphanage moved to the complex of the saint Lucianmonastry in the Kalverstraat (this catholic monastery was liquidated after the 'alteration of Amsterdam' on May 26, 1578, when the Catholic city government was deposed in favour of a Protestant one). The board of the orphanage consisted of six wealthy Amsterdam gentlemen, the regents. They met weekly in the regent's room. There were also four regentesses, rich bourgeois ladies who met separately from the gentlemen. Among other things, they supervised the staff for the youngest orphans and the older girls. The board work was unpaid but honourable. This painting shows the six regents of the municipal orphanage and probably the 'binnenvader' (literally 'innerfather'), the man who carried out the day-to-day management of the complex. Painting from 1716.