# Old Woman Saying Grace, Known as ‘The Prayer without End’

- By: Nicolaes Maes (Dordrecht, 1634–1693)
- Date: c. 1656
- Medium: canvas, oil paint (paint)
- Classification: painting
- Dimensions: height 134 cm x width 113 cm
- Credit line: On loan from the City of Amsterdam
- Museum: [Rijksmuseum](https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/object/SK-C-535--c5fa6b87598aa1777679077a46c1db5f)
- Rights: [Public Domain Mark](http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/)
- Picture: https://iiif.micr.io/yorZz/full/!1920,1080/0/default.jpg
- Who can see it: Tweens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

An old woman prays devoutly before eating her meal. She does not let the begging cat tugging impatiently on the tablecloth distract her. The virtue of the old woman lies in her self-control and sense of duty to God. Just like his teacher Rembrandt, Maes focuses attention on the essence of the scene through restricted lighting.