Old Woman Reading a Lectionary

Gerrit Dou rendered this Old Woman Reading a Lectionary around 1631-1632, creating one of the finest examples of Dutch Golden Age precision. The work was once attributed to Rembrandt and titled "Rembrandt's Mother," though this identification has long been rejected. Dou, Rembrandt, and Jan Lievens often used the same models, and this elderly woman appears in works by all three painters.

The technical detail in this painting is extraordinary. The biblical text in the lectionary and its accompanying print are rendered so precisely that viewers can identify the passage: the beginning of chapter 19 of the Gospel of Luke. The text states that those who wish to do good must give away half of all they own to the poor. Art historians note the contrast between this message and the woman's expensive clothing, suggesting Dou may have intended a moral commentary.

Dou was Rembrandt's first pupil and became famous for his small, highly detailed works. He often used a magnifying glass to achieve his smooth finish and fine brushwork. The painting measures 71.2 x 55.2 cm and was donated to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam in 1912 by Vice-Admiral Anthony Hendrik Hoekwater. It represents the Dutch tradition of intimate portraiture at its most refined.