Dutch master, late 17th century

In this depiction of the newborn Jesus in the Temple in Jerusalem, the prophet Simeon guided by the Holy Spirit, recognizes the Messiah in the baby Jesus. Fulfilled by a divine promise, Simeon, depicted as an elderly figure clad in a wide, reddish-brown cloak, holds the child in his hands, covering him in a cloth. As Simeon beholds the Messiah, he offers praises to God, as recounted in Luke 2. (Luke 2). For this reason, The light falls from the top right onto the head of the baby Jesus and the cloth over Simeon's hand. Unusually, the baby Jesus is looking out of the picture towards the viewer, thereby the role of a witness passes on to the viewer as well. Oil on wood, 59 × 49.5 cm