Artwork
The Moneychanger and His Wife
The Moneychanger and His Wife is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Marinus van Reymerswaele. It dates from 1539 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
Marinus van Reymerswaele, a Dutch painter of the Northern Renaissance, completed *The Moneychanger and His Wife* in 1539.
Marinus van Reymerswaele, a Dutch painter of the Northern Renaissance, completed *The Moneychanger and His Wife* in 1539. Executed in oil on panel, the work portrays a domestic interior where a couple is engaged in financial calculation. The composition is now part of the Museo del Prado’s collection in Madrid, representing the artist’s interest in genre scenes that blend everyday activity with moral overtones.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents a man and a woman seated at a table strewn with coins, a ledger, and writing tools. The male figure, dressed in a green robe, counts money while the woman, in a red dress and striped cap, studies an open book. The scattered chessboard, inkwell, and quill suggest both commerce and contemplation, hinting at the tension between material wealth and intellectual pursuits.
Technique & Style
Van Reymerswaele employs a careful oil technique that renders the metallic sheen of the coins and the texture of fabrics with precision. Subtle chiaroscuro models the figures, creating depth through contrasts of light and shadow. The meticulous rendering of everyday objects reflects the Northern Renaissance’s attention to detail and its interest in realistic, narrative-driven genre painting.
History & Provenance
Trained in Leuven and later active in Antwerp, van Reymerswaele returned to the Northern Netherlands where he produced a series of similar financial scenes. *The Moneychanger and His Wife* entered the Spanish royal collection before being transferred to the Museo del Prado, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s holdings of 16th‑century Dutch art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Marinus van Reymerswaele or Marinus van Reymerswale (c. 1490 – c. 1546) was a Dutch Renaissance painter mainly known for his genre scenes and religious compositions. After studying in Leuven and training and working as…
