Old Woman Reading a Bible (detail)
by DOU, Gerrit, Oil on wood
The woman is reading about the entry of Jesus into Jericho, an episode from St Luke’s Gospel. The illustration shows the tax-collector Simon, who climbed into a tree to observe the event. Jesus, who is shown looking up at him, went to the man’s house despite his disciples’ objections to his visiting a tax-collector, for the profession was considered corrupt. To Protestants, the story proved that sinners are saved by faith.