The Lepers’ Asylum originally took in patients suffering from leprosy. Since that infectious disease rarely still occurred during the 17th century, people with other afflictions were also cared for there. Three regentesses took charge of the day-to-day running of the institution, from overseeing servants to purchasing goods. Bol painted them seated at a table set before a plain back wall. Their identities are known from the family arms on the chimneypiece, above which the painting hung.