Artwork

Payment of Salaries to the Night Watchmen in the Camera del Comune of Siena

Payment of Salaries to the Night Watchmen in the Camera del Comune of Siena is a tempera painting by Unknown. It dates from 1450 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work, executed in tempera, depicts a modest interior illuminated by a single lantern.

About this work

Overview

The work, executed in tempera, depicts a modest interior illuminated by a single lantern. Four figures occupy the space: a man in a red robe near a wooden chest, a second in black receiving an object, a third holding the lantern, and a fourth leaning on a staff while observing. Plain walls, a small window, and a wall hook complete the setting.

Subject & Meaning

The scene appears to record a routine administrative act, likely the disbursement of wages to night watchmen. The presence of a chest suggests a repository for money or records, while the lantern’s glow indicates a nocturnal hour, reinforcing the notion of night‑time guard duty.

Technique & Style

Rendered in temperate paint, the composition relies on opaque pigments mixed with a water‑soluble binder, producing a matte surface typical of pre‑tube painting. The limited palette and careful modeling convey the interior’s modest lighting and the textures of wood, fabric, and metal.

History & Provenance

No specific documentation accompanies the piece, and its origin, date, and ownership history remain unrecorded in the available sources. Consequently, details about its creation and subsequent collection are presently unknown.

Context

The depiction aligns with a broader tradition of civic genre scenes that document municipal functions, such as payrolls for municipal guards. Such works served both as visual records and as illustrations of the orderly administration of local authorities.