ABSTRACT
During the recent conservation of Frans Hals's last paintings, The Regents and The Regentesses of the Old Men's Almshouse, the many similarities and differences between the two paintings were closely examined, providing new insights and a better understanding of Hals's working method. Differences in the degree of finish between the two paintings have led scholars in the past to comment on Hals's advanced age and, more specifically, his failing eyesight and lack of energy. More recently, doubts have been raised concerning the attribution of the Regentesses and the suggestion that other hands were involved. This presentation discusses such differences and shows that they are not necessarily attributable to different hands; they can also be explained by the fact that we are looking at different phases in the painting process.
