The art collector Brentano had the picture gallery in his Amsterdam canal house decorated in a classical style. The bright colours, fanciful ornaments, and light-coloured figural friezes were inspired by the then recent excavations at Herculaneum and Pompeii in Italy. A company of men, women, and children has gathered to admire Brentano’s new acquisitions. Near the easel at the right is a group of artist friends, while in the middle Brentano himself shows two other guests an Italian painting.