Boaz and Ruth, Rembrandt van Rijn, c. 1645
pen and brown ink, with opaque white, h 126mm × w 143mm Catalogue entry
The widow Ruth was encouraged by her mother-in-law, Naomi, to offer herself to Boaz, a relative of Naomi’s deceased husband. Ruth then lay down on the threshing floor at Boaz’s feet. To thank her for her hard work during the harvest, Boaz poured six measures of barley on her shawl. Ruth and Boaz would eventually marry and become the ancestors of King David (and thus of Christ).
