A young woman at home receiving a message from an old woman who is visiting her. Lithograph by Fr. Hanfstaengl, 1838, after F. van Mieris.

The lithograph shows a Louis XV-type frame around the reproduction of the painting

Called in this print "Die Wahrsagerin", meaning the fortune teller. The painting is catalogued in Dresden as "Die Liebesbotschaft", meaning the love-message, presumably referring to the letter held by the young woman. The old woman (presumably the bringer of the letter) is counting on her fingers (the 'computus digitorum'): counting what? The young woman is lost in thought: she rests her head on her hand, her elbow rests on a book, and the book presses against the lute which is upside down on the table (implying abandon). Left, her bed, with a headboard carved with the word "Amor" (love)

[Dresden] : Herausgegeben v. Franz Hanfstaengl, [1838]

[Dresden] : gedruckt bei dem Herausgeber [Fr. Hanfstaengl], [1838]

1 print : lithograph ; image 40 x 35.1 cm

Die Wahrsagerin von Franz van Mieris. N. d. Original auf Stein gez. v. Fr. Hanfstaengl Dresd. 1838. Das Original ist in derselben Grösse ...

Wellcome Collection 563044i

After: a painting by Frans van Mieris Dresden, dated 1671 (oil on wood 29.5 x 24 cm)