Prayer Before the Meal

Jan Steen portrayed a family at prayer before a modest meal of bread, cheese, and ham. The father has removed his hat, his eyes downcast, while the woman holds her child snugly in her arms. Steen depicted the meal and setting with remarkable care, from the sliced ham on the barrel to the soft, tattered cloth beneath it. Late afternoon light coming in through the open window enhances the quiet spirituality of the scene. Steen’s painting reflects the ideal of a pious and harmonious Dutch family. He includes a biblical text on a placard on the wall that speaks of the family’s creed: to love God the Father, to reject the coveting of riches, and to lead an honest life.

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