B. The deathbed
Once in Rome, the merchant becomes deathly ill. He realizes that he cannot keep the icon, source of grace, to himself. He leaves it to his friend to make the icon accessible to everyone through the church.
B. The deathbed
Once in Rome, the merchant becomes deathly ill. He realizes that he cannot keep the icon, source of grace, to himself. He leaves it to his friend to make the icon accessible to everyone through the church.
Below the painting is written in old Dutch: "The dying merchant hands over his greatest treasure to his friend. The merchant said, 'See to it that this Holy Image is placed in one of Rome's churches for worship.'"