Nicolaes Moeyaert: The choice between young and old/ Mooy-Aal and her suitors (1630-1640)

(Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, the Netherlands)

A painting by the Dutch artist Nicolaes Moeyaert (1592-1655). This painting is probably based upon a play by the Dutch poet Gerbrand Adriaensz. Bredero (1585-1618) called 'The game of the Moor' . In this play a girl called ' Mooy-Aal' has two suitors: the wealthy but old sailor 'Roemert' (the man with the fur hat who is showing his money bag) and the young and handsome, but always in financial problems, 'Ritsart' (the standing man who is pointing to his wineglass). Kackerlack, a cunning man, advises her to take both men as her lovers so everybody is happy (in that way she has the money and the young lover). Painting from 1630-1640.