Skip to main content

Paul Cezanne, 'An Old Woman with a Rosary', about 1895-6

Key facts
Full title An Old Woman with a Rosary
Artist Paul Cezanne
Artist dates 1839 - 1906
Date made about 1895-6
Medium and support oil on canvas
Dimensions 80.6 × 65.5 cm
Acquisition credit Bought, 1953
Inventory number NG6195
Location Room 44
Collection Main Collection
An Old Woman with a Rosary
Paul Cezanne

A old women, her gaze unfocused, clutches a rosary – a string of beads used in prayer – tightly in her hands. According to the writer Joachim Gasquet, the sitter was a former nun who had escaped from a convent, wandering aimlessly until Cezanne took her on as a servant.

Gasquet found this painting in 1896 at Cezanne’s family house near Aix-en-Provence, lying on the floor of the artist’s studio with a pipe dripping on it. The lower left-hand corner is marked by splashed water or steam.

Download image
Download low-resolution image

Download a low-resolution copy of this image for personal use.

License this image

License and download a high-resolution image for reproductions up to A3 size from the National Gallery Picture Library.

License image
Download low-resolution image

This image is licensed for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons agreement.

Examples of non-commercial use are:

  • Research, private study, or for internal circulation within an educational organisation (such as a school, college or university)
  • Non-profit publications, personal websites, blogs, and social media

The image file is 800 pixels on the longest side.

As a charity, we depend upon the generosity of individuals to ensure the collection continues to engage and inspire. Help keep us free by making a donation today.

Download low-resolution image

You must agree to the Creative Commons terms and conditions to download this image.

Creative Commons Logo