Attributed to Jozef Israels (1824–1911) Netherlands Holland, Oil on Canvas Figural Portrait "Old Woman at Prayer". Appears unsigned. Large oil on canvas figural portrait of an elderly woman with a rosary. Attributed and titled on plaque near bottom. Framed.

Overall Size: 42 1/2 x 47 in.
Sight Size: 30 1/2 x 34 in.

Frame Thickness: 3 in. 

Jozef Israels (1824–1911) was a Dutch painter renowned for his poignant depictions of peasant life, positioning him as a central figure in the Hague School of realism. Born in Groningen to a Jewish family, he initially trained at the Minerva Academy and later at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Amsterdam. Further honing his skills in Paris under artists like François-Édouard Picot, Israëls began his career with historical and romantic subjects. However, a transformative stay in the fishing village of Zandvoort in 1855 shifted his focus to the everyday struggles of fishermen and rural laborers. His works, such as Passing Mother's Grave (1856) and Fishermen Carrying a Drowned Man (1861), are characterized by their deep empathy and subdued tones, drawing comparisons to contemporaries like Jean-François Millet. Israëls also explored themes of Jewish life, notably in A Jewish Wedding (1903), reflecting his heritage. Celebrated during his lifetime, he received numerous accolades, including the Grand Prix at the Paris Expositions Universelles in 1889 and 1900. His legacy endures, influencing artists such as Vincent van Gogh and leaving an indelible mark on 19th-century European art.