Old woman in prayer, known as 'The prayer without end', Nicolaes Maes, c. 1656 oil on canvas, h 134cm × w 113cm.
An old woman prays assiduously before starting her meal. She is not distracted by the begging cat impatiently tugging at the tablecloth. The old woman's virtue thus consists of self-control and a sense of duty to God. Through the sparse lighting, Maes draws attention to the heart of the scene, as did his teacher Rembrandt.
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