Artwork
An Old Woman Dozing
An Old Woman Dozing is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Nicolaes Maes. It dates from 1656 and is held in the collection of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.
About this work
Overview
An Old Woman Dozing is a circa 1656 oil on canvas painting by Dutch Golden Age artist Nicolaes Maes, now in the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium. The work depicts a serene, everyday moment of an elderly woman resting.
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows an elderly woman in dark attire and a white headscarf, dozing with her head on her hand. A Bible lies open on her lap, and a lace pillow (a recurring motif in Maes' work) sits on a nearby table, suggesting quiet contemplation or prayer interrupted by sleep.
Technique & Style
Maes employs chiaroscuro to create depth and volume, focusing attention on the woman's face and the Bible through a warm, singular light source in an otherwise dimly lit room, characteristic of Dutch Golden Age's use of light and shadow.
History & Provenance
Documented by Hofstede de Groot in 1914, the painting was acquired by the museum from Gauchez in Paris in 1885 for 66,000 francs, later cataloged as No. 279 in the 1908 Brussels Museum catalogue.
Artist & collection
Artist
Nicolaes Maes (January 1634 – December 1693; buried 24 December 1693) was a Dutch painter known for his genre scenes, portraits, religious compositions and the occasional still life.
Museum
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
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