![Jan Steen - Little Alms Collector [c.1663-65]](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5508/14348939602_6c57014277_o.jpg)
The subject of this work was only recently identified satisfactorily as a Pentecostal procession. The potted plant, a cardamine pratensis, whose flower a young child sitting on a railing offers to the alms collector, is the key to this painting. This common meadow plant, which was unlikely to be depicted as an ornamental plant, is called pinksterbloem in Dutch. The same name, which means “May flower”, is given to the little girl at the head of the processions organised by Catholics on this festival day.
[Musee des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris - Oil on wooden panel, 59 x 51 cm]