# Feeding the Hungry

- By: Michael Sweerts (Brussels, 1618–1664)
- Date: 1646 - 1649
- Medium: canvas, oil paint (paint)
- Classification: painting
- Dimensions: height 75 cm x width 99 cm
- Credit line: Purchased with the support of the Commissie voor Fotoverkoop
- Museum: [Rijksmuseum](https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/object/SK-A-2845--3a1a8f02657aac1bf8d73c3e6e6262f1)
- Rights: [Public Domain Mark](http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/)
- Picture: https://iiif.micr.io/eFySd/full/!1920,1080/0/default.jpg
- Who can see it: Teens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

In the Catholic Church, the ‘Seven Works of Mercy’ served as a guiding principle for acts of human kindness. They are based on Christ’s teachings, as described in the Gospel of Matthew. Sweerts painted his series of – four of which four pictures are in the Rijksmuseum – while in Rome. His humble street scenes depict the poorest of the poor with penetrating insight.