From 1596 Amsterdam had a house of correction for women, the Spinhuis. This was set up by the city government as a re-education institution. It was arranged according to the severity of the crime and was also on a work basis, i.e., knitting and spinning. Four governors and two governesses formed the board. The governesses supervised the women and the staff. Two wardresses inspected the work. This painting commits to posterity the governesses and wardresses of the Spinhuis. Dirck Santvoort, a successful Amsterdam portraitist, has grouped the four ladies around a table. The emphasis is on the administrative responsibilities of the governesses (seated) and on the more practical duties of the wardresses (standing). Lacework by an inmate is being inspected on the left, while a bill for purchases is settled on the right. The lady on the far left is probably Lysbeth Hendricksdr Haeck (1559-1638). She was governoress of the Spinning House from 1599 to her death in 1638, the year in which the portrait was painted. The other seated lady is Styntje Thomas, governoress from 1625 to 1645.