This gold-weigher by Salomon Koninck was made two years before the death of the painter Rembrandt van Rijn. Rembrandt’s painting style is clearly recognisable in it. Koninck has clearly indicated the source of light. The incidental sunlight encapsulates the dark room in a soft glow. Scenes such as these have a long tradition. Goldsmiths, gold changers and bankers were painted from the early 16th century by artists including Quinten Massijs. Scenes showing gold being weighed were associated at the time with vices such as miserliness and ‘avaritia’. This meaning was also well known in the 17th century and it can therefore be assumed that Salomon Koninck wanted to use his old gold scales to symbolise ‘Miserliness’.
Specifications
Title | The gold-weigher |
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Material and technique | Oil on canvas |
Object type |
Painting
> Painting
> Two-dimensional object
> Art object
|
Location | This object is in storage |
Dimensions |
Width 64 cm Height 75,7 cm |
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Artists |
Painter:
Salomon Koninck
|
Accession number | 1420 (OK) |
Credits | Purchased 1859 |
Department | Old Masters |
Acquisition date | 1859 |
Creation date | in 1654 |
External exhibitions |
Boijmans bij de Buren - Samensmeden, Meesters in zilver (2019) |
Research |
Show research Alma |
Material | |
Object | |
Geographical origin | Northern Netherlands > The Netherlands > Western Europe > Europe |