Old Woman Reading

• Old Woman Reading
• Old Woman reading a Lectionary : the so-called portrait of Rembrandt's mother, Neeltgen Willemsdr van Zuijdtbroeck (d. 1640)

SK-A-2627

The book is rendered in such detail that it is easy to see what the woman is reading: the beginning of chapter 19 of the Gospel of Luke. The passage states that those who wish to do good must give away half of all they own to the poor. The old woman’s expensive clothing contrasts sharply with this message: she is still attached to worldly possessions.

painter: Gerard Dou

c. 1631 - c. 1632

olieverf op paneel

height 71.2 cm x width 55.2 cm x depth 1.1 cm

De vrouw leest in Evangelien ende epistelen alzomen die doort gantsche jaer op alle Sondaghen ende ander Heylighe daghen, in der heyligher kercken hout. Ende oock met schone figueren op elcken Evangelie ghestelt by Lourens Jacobszoon [1585 of later].

A.H. Hoekwater Bequest, The Hague

bequest 1912-10

Public domain

To refer to this object, please use the following persistent URL:

https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/20027805