The City Treasurer and his Wife. Marinus van Reymerswale.

This painting shows the workplace of a couple of money changers from Flanders.

Money changers were like old-time bankers who lent money.

In the scene, the man weighs a coin with a scale, and the woman waits for the result.

She rests her fingers on the ledger.

She records all the money coming in and going out in this ledger.

The table is covered with coins, and the shelves contain scattered papers.

The painter wrote the date and signature on the sheet over the shoulder of the money changer.

Marinus portrays the everyday life of these people but also criticises them.

The painter shows the man and the woman as people eager to accumulate wealth and enjoy profits.

Also, their luxurious and exaggerated clothing shows their desire to appear wealthy.

Marinus was a painter in the city of Antwerp, which was an artistic and commercial centre at that time.

He learned to paint from Flemish masters but was also influenced by Italian painters.

He was known for his portraits of painters, money changers, and tax collectors.

Marinus created several versions of this painting.

Today, 5 versions are preserved in various museums across Europe.

All 5 versions are different.

Marinus always included some details that made the paintings different.

During his time, Flanders was a rich and modern region.

A lot of money circulated in this region, and bankers and money changers opened their businesses.

Some of them wanted to get rich, and people started criticising them.

People criticised them for lending money and asking for high interest in return.

Interest is the amount of money the banker earns for lending money for a certain period.

This form of lending, called usury, was considered a sin.

For this reason, painters portrayed money changers with their wealth and criticised their actions.