I sense this is a servant girl who is just beginning her work day. Her apron looks clean enough. The wash barrel hasn't been filled yet. Maybe it's early morning light we see through the lower-level window. The lantern on the wall isn't needed. There's a geranium on the sill. I think the artist has the plant even leaning a bit towards the window to catch the most light. That might well be a small bible or prayer book in the young lady's hands. She's not a glorious saint, but there is a very thin outline of light around her head. Maybe this is the artist's way of acknowledging the girl's closeness to God in simplicity and humility. The kitchen cat is looking on — perhaps patiently waiting for breakfast. It's a pleasant scene. I like to imagine the place is quiet — it's her space and the upstairs family hasn't roused yet. Likely with the ringing of a bell, she'll have to switch gears, putting down her devotions to take care of the demands of others. Lots of people live this way.
A side note about Julian of Norwich
Julian of Norwich (AKA Juliana) was born in 1342 in Norwich, England. She died in 1416. She wrote The Revelation of Divine Love, perhaps the most beautifully intelligent and spiritually insightful pieces of literature produced during the Middle Ages. Juliana spent the latter part of her life as recluse in a small cell attached to St. Julian's Church. The cell contained a narrow, slit of a window looking into the church so she could see Mass and receive Communion and a larger window through which food (and waste — no bathroom) could be passed and where she might sit and talk with visitors seeking spiritual advice. Juliana wrote:
"The greatest honor we can give God is to live gladly because of the knowledge of His love."
But she also kept a cat, which may have helped to keep down the mice population. Important, considering the plague passed through Norwich three times. But perhaps she allowed a pet simply for companionship. Here is a contemporary icon of Juliana painted by Robert Lentz. He has included her cat in the image, which I think is quite charming. I believe Mr. Lentz asks us:
"What is your relationship with the two-legged, four-legged, winged, finned, rooted and flowing creatures of the earth?"
