De Staalmeesters (translate: the Sampling Officials) were drapers who were elected to assess the quality of cloth that weavers offered for sale to members of their guild. Their one-year terms in office began on Good Friday and they were expected to conduct their inspections thrice weekly. The Dutch word staal means ‘sample’ and refers to the samples of cloth that were assessed.
“De Staalmeesters” are known from a 1662 oil painting by Rembrandt. It is currently owned by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. It has been described as his “last great collective portrait”.