Six men gather around a dark wooden table, five seated and one standing at the back, all dressed in somber black with broad-brimmed hats and crisp white collars. The figure at the left rests his hand on a closed book, his gaze turned slightly toward his companions, while the man beside him leans forward, fingers interlaced, his mustache and pointed beard accentuating his attentive expression. At the center, a regent sits with his body turned toward the viewer, his right hand resting on his chest, and his pale face framed by shoulder-length hair and a wide, white collar.

To his right, another regent sits upright, his face marked by a drooping right side, his long hair and hat casting deep shadows across his features. The rightmost seated man wears a glove on his left hand and displays a vivid red stocking on his knee, his pale face and direct gaze set off by the stark contrast of his black attire and white linen. Behind the group, a sixth figure stands, older and dressed in a collar that appears out of date, holding a slip of paper and smiling faintly, his presence slightly apart from the seated men.

The background is subdued, with a brownish drapery and a glimpse of a window at the far right, where faint trees are visible. Light falls from the left, illuminating the faces and hands of the regents and casting the background into shadow, while the table’s surface gleams with highlights on a pewter inkstand and a quill. The brushwork is loose and energetic, especially in the rendering of the hands, hair, and the folds of fabric, with visible strokes giving a sense of immediacy and texture.

The composition arranges the figures in a shallow space, their bodies angled toward each other to create a sense of unity, while individual expressions and gestures suggest distinct personalities. Small details, such as the glint of metal on the inkstand, the red stocking, and the varied textures of lace and wool, reward close inspection.