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Old Woman Saying Grace, Known as ‘The Prayer without End’
Public domain

Old Woman Saying Grace, Known as ‘The Prayer without End’

Nicolaes Maes · c. 1656 · canvas; oil paint (paint)

From the collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.

About this work

An old woman prays devoutly before eating her meal. She does not let the begging cat tugging impatiently on the tablecloth distract her. The virtue of the old woman lies in her self-control and sense of duty to God. Just like his teacher Rembrandt, Maes focuses attention on the essence of the scene through restricted lighting.

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s own description
Subjects
paintingcatold womanhourglass
Credit lineOld Woman Saying Grace, Known as ‘The Prayer without End’. c. 1656. Nicolaes Maes. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Public domain.
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