Artwork
Der Wechsler Orazio Lago, seine Frau und ein Klient
Der Wechsler Orazio Lago, seine Frau und ein Klient is an unspecified painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Leandro Bassano. It dates from 1600 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
Leandro Bassano’s oil painting, dated 1600, presents a domestic interior in which a money‑changer, his spouse, and a patron are gathered around a table.
Leandro Bassano’s oil painting, dated 1600, presents a domestic interior in which a money‑changer, his spouse, and a patron are gathered around a table. Executed at the cusp of the early Baroque, the work now belongs to the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. The composition captures a moment of quiet exchange, illuminated by a gentle, warm light that separates the figures from a darkened backdrop.
Subject & Meaning
The central figures are a merchant engaged in currency handling, his wife, and a client who appears to be reviewing a document. The inclusion of a ledger and a piece of paper suggests a transaction or negotiation, while the attentive expressions convey a contemplative atmosphere, hinting at the everyday business practices of the period and the social roles surrounding commerce.
Technique & Style
Bassano employs a restrained palette of deep reds, browns, and muted blues, creating depth through subtle gradations of tone. The chiaroscuro effect, achieved by a soft, warm light falling on the faces and hands, models the forms against the shadowed background. Fine brushwork renders the textures of fabric and the gleam of metal, while the overall handling reflects the transition from Renaissance clarity to early Baroque dynamism.
History & Provenance
Born in Bassano del Grappa, Leandro was trained by his father Jacopo Bassano and later received a knighthood from the Doge of Venice, underscoring his standing in the Venetian art world. The painting entered the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s holdings in the 19th century, where it remains part of the museum’s representation of Northern Italian Baroque painting.
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.
Three Regentesses and the ‘House Mother’ of the Amsterdam Lepers’ Asylum
Four Philosophers
Untitled
Four Regents of the Groot-Kramergild
Musizierende Gesellschaft
Four Regents and the ‘House Father’ of the Amsterdam Lepers’ Asylum
Drei Gelehrte
The Geographer
The regents of the Tuchthuis (house of correction) in Middelburg, 1643
The landlord's steward
Untitled
Tax collection