Six men in wide-brimmed black hats gather around a table covered with a richly patterned red textile, their attention focused on a large open book at the center. Five of the figures sit or lean forward, their faces illuminated by a soft, golden light that highlights their pale collars and the texture of their hair and beards, while a sixth man stands slightly behind them, more in shadow. The man at the far left sits in a carved wooden chair, his hand resting on the arm, while the next two figures lean toward the viewer, one with his hand on the table and the other with his fingers touching the open book.

At the far right, a man holds a pair of gloves in his left hand, his gaze meeting the viewer directly, while the others look out with expressions ranging from attentive to contemplative. The setting is a paneled interior with warm brown walls and a high wainscot, giving the scene an air of official formality. Rembrandt arranges the figures in a shallow arc, drawing attention to their interaction and the shared task at hand, while the broad brushstrokes and subtle variations in color create a sense of depth and presence.

A large, ornately carved wooden chair with red upholstery and decorative fringe is positioned at the far left edge of the painting, partly cropped by the frame. The background features dark wooden paneling that wraps around the room, with a corner joint visible behind the standing figure and a lighter upper wall above. Soft light falls from the left side, casting gentle shadows on the right sides of the figures’ faces and hats, and creating a subtle glow on the red tablecloth.

The richly patterned red textile on the table drapes over the front edge, showing gold and orange designs and a slightly worn texture. The paint handling in the background is looser and more muted, with visible brushstrokes and less detail compared to the sharply defined faces and hands of the men. The painting's surface reveals Rembrandt’s characteristic loose brushwork, especially in the rendering of textiles and flesh, contrasting with the crisp lines of the white collars and the detailed faces.