Who painted Der Zinsgroschen. Nach Peter Paul Rubens?

Der Zinsgroschen. Nach Peter Paul Rubens was painted by Samuel Hoffmann in 1630.

Where can I see Der Zinsgroschen. Nach Peter Paul Rubens?

Der Zinsgroschen. Nach Peter Paul Rubens is held by Kunsthaus Zürich.

Artwork

Der Zinsgroschen. Nach Peter Paul Rubens

Der Zinsgroschen. Nach Peter Paul Rubens is an oil painting by Samuel Hoffmann. It dates from 1630 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich.

About this work

Overview

The painting adheres closely to Rubens' Baroque style, utilizing strong chiaroscuro and rich coloration to model the figures and convey emotional intensity.

Samuel Hoffmann's 1630 oil painting, Der Zinsgroschen. Nach Peter Paul Rubens, depicts the biblical episode of the Tribute Money, rendered as a direct copy of Peter Paul Rubens' composition. The work centers on a figure in a pink robe and gray cloak, identified as Christ, who extends his hand to receive a coin from a Pharisee.

Surrounding them, a group of men in varied robes and head coverings lean in with focused attention, creating a dynamic, crowded arrangement that emphasizes the dramatic tension of the moment. Hoffmann, a Swiss artist active in the early 17th century, produced this work during a period when copying Flemish masters was a common method of artistic training and dissemination. The painting adheres closely to Rubens' Baroque style, utilizing strong chiaroscuro and rich coloration to model the figures and convey emotional intensity.

By replicating Rubens' specific arrangement and character types, Hoffmann's work serves as a testament to the influence of Flemish Baroque art on Swiss painters of the era, preserving the compositional energy of the original while adapting it to a smaller scale.

Subject & Meaning

The central character, clad in a pink robe beneath a gray cloak, raises his right arm while offering the coins, suggesting a moment of negotiation or instruction concerning money. The surrounding figures, each wearing head coverings and robes, turn their gazes toward him, indicating interest or contemplation of the financial exchange being presented.

Technique & Style

Hoffmann employs chiaroscuro to create a stark contrast between light and shadow, giving the scene a three‑dimensional quality and a dramatic focus on the hand gesture. The dark background recedes, while the illuminated figures are rendered with careful modeling, emphasizing texture in the fabrics and the gleam of the coins.

History & Provenance

Executed in 1630, the painting reflects the influence of Peter Paul Rubens, as indicated by its subtitle. It entered the holdings of the Kunsthaus Zürich, where it remains on display, providing insight into early‑17th‑century Germanic interpretations of Rubensian themes and the circulation of such works within Swiss collections.