Artwork

The Tribute Money - Peter Finding the Silver Coin in the Mouth of the Fish

The Tribute Money - Peter Finding the Silver Coin in the Mouth of the Fish is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Jacob Jordaens. It dates from 1637 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Overview

Jacob Jordaens painted *The Tribute Money – Peter Finding the Silver Coin in the Mouth of the Fish* in 1637. Executed in oil on canvas, the work illustrates the New Testament episode in which the apostle Peter retrieves a silver coin from a fish to satisfy a tax demand. The composition is held by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

Subject & Meaning

The narrative shows Peter on the right, holding the recovered coin, while a man on the left presents the fish that has yielded the treasure. The background suggests a lake scene with distant boats, situating the miracle within a recognizable, everyday landscape that underscores the biblical theme of divine provision.

Technique & Style

Jordaens employs the Flemish Baroque palette of warm and cool tones, using chiaroscuro to model the figures and create spatial depth. The foreground figures are rendered in vivid colors that contrast with the more muted atmospheric background, guiding the viewer’s attention to the central act of discovery.

History & Provenance

Created during Jordaens’ mature period, the painting reflects his status as the leading Flemish Baroque painter after the deaths of Rubens and Van Dyck. Though Jordaens worked primarily in the Low Countries, the work eventually entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains on display.

Context

The work belongs to Jordaens’ extensive series of religious subjects, a genre that dominated his output alongside genre scenes and portraits. By portraying a biblical miracle with a grounded, domestic setting, he aligns with the broader Baroque aim of making sacred stories accessible to contemporary viewers.