An old couple lie in their sick bed receiving alms from a girl with the encouragement of her mother and a nun. Line engraving by Th.-F. Vi-., 1781, after J.B. Greuze.

La dame bienfaisante

A poor interior in which an old man and an old woman are confined to bed. They are visited by a wealthy lady and her daughter: the lady encourages the daughter to give to the poor couple a purse of money which the daughter holds out in her right hand. A boy with a mop (?) stands on the left, a nun on the right

In the bottom margin, an etching of an altar on which the Crown of thorns is burned by flaming hearts, representing love

Paris (Rue St. Jacques, à la Ville de Rouen) : chez les Campions frères, 1781.

1 print : line engraving ; image 33.7 x 43 cm

L'exemple d'humanité. Dedié aux dames bienfaisantes. Th. F.ois. Vi***. sculp. 1781. ... Gravé d'après l'original de 24 pouces ½ de large sur 20 de haut, qui se vend chez Mr. Greuze, peintre du Roy. Lettering continues: "Que cet exemple de bonté / est bien propre à former le [sic] coeurs de la jeunesse! / Qu'y voit-on? Rien qui n'intéresse / la justice, l'humanité. / Mères qui n'avez point à craindre la détresse, / Sera-t'-il par vous imité? / On ne mérite la richesse, que quand on la partage avec la pauvreté"

The engraver Thomas François Vi... has not been identified

Wellcome Collection 17044i

After: a painting by Greuze in the Musée des beaux-arts, Lyon