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The background is made up of a design formed from the repeated motif of rain falling from clouds, with the inscription in Dutch or Low German dialect 'har.las.uber.gan' (Lord, let
it
pass).
It was presumably the sitter's personal device, but was not unique to him. The ring has been taken to suggest that the sitter is a goldsmith or that he is about to be married.
The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN



