The Visitation

Two women meet on a path in front of a country house. The younger, in blue, has come a long way; the older, in red, hurries towards her. Each lays a hand on the other's body.

Mary has gone “into the hill country with haste” to her relative Elisabeth, who in her old age is six months pregnant with John the Baptist. Rogier leaves out everything that could distract: no servants, no halo, only the gesture. Elisabeth's husband Zacharias stands small at the door of the house.