Artwork
Christus vertreibt die Händler aus dem Tempel
Christus vertreibt die Händler aus dem Tempel is an unspecified painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Leandro Bassano. It dates from 1597 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
Leandro Bassano’s 1597 canvas, titled *Christus vertreibt die Händler aus dem Tempel*, presents a bustling interior where Christ confronts merchants within a temple. Executed in the early Baroque period, the work reflects the transition from the Venetian late Renaissance toward a more dramatic, naturalistic visual language. It is part of the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.
Subject & Meaning
The composition illustrates the biblical episode in which Jesus expels the money‑changers from the holy sanctuary, a narrative often used to underscore the sanctity of worship versus commercial exploitation. By surrounding the central figure with a multitude of displaced sellers, fallen goods, and even livestock, the painting emphasizes the chaotic reversal of order that the act represents.
Technique & Style
Bassano employs a warm, earthy palette of reds, browns and greens, punctuated by darker shadows that give depth to the crowded space. The figures are rendered with vigorous gestures and varied postures, creating a sense of movement. The inclusion of everyday details—such as a cow, sheep and scattered objects—reflects the Venetian tradition of integrating genre elements into religious scenes.
History & Provenance
Born into the prominent Bassano family of painters, Leandro was the third son of Jacopo Bassano and trained alongside his brother Francesco the Younger in their native Bassano del Grappa. The painting remained in private hands before entering the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s collection, where it has been on display since the early twentieth century.
Context
Created at a time when Venetian art was shifting toward the Baroque’s heightened drama, the work aligns with contemporary efforts to render sacred narratives with heightened realism and emotional intensity. Its crowded composition and vivid detail echo the broader Counter‑Reformation aim of making religious stories accessible and compelling to viewers.
Artist & collection
Artist
Leandro Bassano (10 June 1557 – 15 April 1622), also called Leandro dal Ponte, was an Italian Renaissance painter from Bassano del Grappa who was awarded a knighthood by the Doge of Venice.
