19th century Drawing on parchment

Brown ink drawing (pen and wash) on parchment
19th century, monogrammed AS
28.5 × 24.2 cm

The scene depicts a discreet act of almsgiving, in accordance with the Latin biblical verse inscribed in the stone cartouche at the top left. The quotation "te autem faciente eleemosynam nesciat sinistra tua quid faciat dextera tua" comes from the Bible, specifically the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 6, verse 3. It means: “But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” This passage is part of the Sermon on the Mount, in which Jesus teaches that good deeds should not be done for show, but in discretion and humility.

A blind, bearded old man in rags, holding a crutch, extends his hand to receive a coin. His arm is supported by a young girl who assists him and holds a rosary. To the right, in the background, a woman ascending a staircase is seen walking away, perhaps suggesting the discretion desired in charitable acts. The setting—with its columns, stonework, and costumes—evokes the style of the Northern Renaissance, but with a precision and pastiche effect typical of the 19th century.

The fine hatching, skillful composition, and gentle dramatization recall the German Renaissance master engravers, notably Albrecht Dürer, Hans Sebald Beham, and Lucas van Leyden.