"The Tribute Money"
Circle of Peter Paul Rubens
(Siegen 1577 - Antwerp 1640)
Period 1620/40
Excellent condition
Antique relining from the early 1800s
Canvas dimensions: 38 x 29 cm
This splendid jewel, painted in an excellent manner, depicts an episode from the Gospel according to Matthew.
The Pharisee tax collectors ask Jesus and Peter for the tribute money to enter the Temple.
This tax should not be confused with the tribute to Caesar mentioned in the Gospel according to Luke, which concerns taxes in favor of Rome ("Render unto God the things that are God's, and unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's").
The tribute money served to maintain the Temple of Jerusalem and was paid by all male Jews from the age of twenty onwards.
Upon the request for the tribute, Jesus, while declaring himself the son of the God worshiped in the Temple, asks Peter to pay the entrance fee with a silver coin. Peter does not possess silver coins and is therefore invited by his Master to fish a fish in the Sea of Tiberias. In its mouth he will find the coin. Peter obeys and the miracle is accomplished.
The episode is rich in meanings and, analyzed in its details, lends itself to different interpretations.
Returning to our work, the quality of the painting is evident, with the description of the faces executed in such detail as to capture all the characteristic and expressive details of the depicted characters.
The author of the painting is a particularly gifted artist from the circle of the great Master of Antwerp, Peter Paul Rubens, probably one of his valid students and inspired by the famous canvas: "The Tribute Money," whose most important version is exhibited at the Fine Art Museum in San Francisco.
Our small canvas, very detailed in the characters and executed directly in the outline, is certainly a small preparatory sketch for the execution of a large work.
In practice, it constituted the preliminary design to be shown to the client to assess any changes before the final drafting.
Rubens' workshop, notoriously very active, often reproduced this painting to satisfy the important commissions from all over Europe who requested it following its great success.
Certificate of authenticity and descriptive sheet. (FIMA)
Tracked shipping (DHL TRACKING) and fully insured with anti-shock packaging in a custom-made wooden crate.
Delivery within 3 working days from receipt of payment
Negotiable price and customized payment
https://www.antichitaischia.it/it/prodotto/-il-tributo-della-moneta--
